CPHON EXAMS ESSENTIAL STUDY QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
◉ Oncogenes.
Answer: genes that cause cancer by blocking the normal controls on
cell reproduction. Activity of oncogenes produces a constant signal
for production in the cell cycle and cause the cell to grow out of
control. MYCN associated with neuroblastoma
◉ Tumor Supressor Gene.
Answer: A gene whose protein product inhibits cell division, thereby
preventing the uncontrolled cell growth that contributes to cancer. If
these genes are damaged or absent, cells lack the appropriate
growth inhibiting factors and grow out of control. P53 gene
◉ p53.
Answer: tumor suppressor gene. Most often mutated in cancers.
◉ Hallmark of cancer.
Answer: Increase in genetic instability and mutation rates. Dividing
malignant cells rapidly acquire gentic changes , so tumors are
similar but not identical. This means that with variability in cells one
chemotherapy agent may not be effective against all tumor cells.
,◉ Hematopoietic stem cell.
Answer: cell in the bone marrow that gives rise to all types of blood
cells (neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and
platelets).
◉ Lymphoid lineage.
Answer: B cells, T cells, NK cells. B cells from the bone marrow, T
cells from the thymus
◉ myeloid lineage.
Answer: A subset of bone-marrow derived cells comprising
granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages.
◉ Immune Response.
Answer: The body's defensive reaction to invasion by bacteria, viral
agents, or other foreign substances. May play a role in the
prevention of many cancers.
◉ 3 layers of the immune response.
Answer: 1) physical barrier (mucous membranes and skin)
2) innate or nonspecific immune system
3) adaptive or acquired immune system
, ◉ Physical barrier immune system.
Answer: Skin and mucous membranes. Interruption of the integrity
of these barriers provides a portal of entry for infectious agents.
◉ Innate or passive immunity.
Answer: Rapid, nonspecific response to invading pathogens.
Neutrophils are the first at the site of infection, providing
nonspecific phagocytosis and bacterial ingestion. Possess when we
are born.
◉ Adaptive immune system.
Answer: Specific and a delayed/slower lymphocyte response to
specific antigens. T cells and B cells. Page 15
◉ MYCN amplification.
Answer: key risk stratifier for treatment/therapy in neuroblastoma;
technique by which MYCN protein drives cells into the cell cycle;
leading to extra MYCN protein; detected by FISH
◉ I-MIBG.
Answer: Absorbed by tissues containing adrenergic nerves and us
sued in then diagnosis, staging, and follow up of neuroblastoma. It is
taken up by an active tumor, minimizing the false-positive results
that may show in a bone scan. After the tracer is administered,
patients are seen 24, 48, and 72 hours for imaging. To protect the
AND ANSWERS
◉ Oncogenes.
Answer: genes that cause cancer by blocking the normal controls on
cell reproduction. Activity of oncogenes produces a constant signal
for production in the cell cycle and cause the cell to grow out of
control. MYCN associated with neuroblastoma
◉ Tumor Supressor Gene.
Answer: A gene whose protein product inhibits cell division, thereby
preventing the uncontrolled cell growth that contributes to cancer. If
these genes are damaged or absent, cells lack the appropriate
growth inhibiting factors and grow out of control. P53 gene
◉ p53.
Answer: tumor suppressor gene. Most often mutated in cancers.
◉ Hallmark of cancer.
Answer: Increase in genetic instability and mutation rates. Dividing
malignant cells rapidly acquire gentic changes , so tumors are
similar but not identical. This means that with variability in cells one
chemotherapy agent may not be effective against all tumor cells.
,◉ Hematopoietic stem cell.
Answer: cell in the bone marrow that gives rise to all types of blood
cells (neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and
platelets).
◉ Lymphoid lineage.
Answer: B cells, T cells, NK cells. B cells from the bone marrow, T
cells from the thymus
◉ myeloid lineage.
Answer: A subset of bone-marrow derived cells comprising
granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages.
◉ Immune Response.
Answer: The body's defensive reaction to invasion by bacteria, viral
agents, or other foreign substances. May play a role in the
prevention of many cancers.
◉ 3 layers of the immune response.
Answer: 1) physical barrier (mucous membranes and skin)
2) innate or nonspecific immune system
3) adaptive or acquired immune system
, ◉ Physical barrier immune system.
Answer: Skin and mucous membranes. Interruption of the integrity
of these barriers provides a portal of entry for infectious agents.
◉ Innate or passive immunity.
Answer: Rapid, nonspecific response to invading pathogens.
Neutrophils are the first at the site of infection, providing
nonspecific phagocytosis and bacterial ingestion. Possess when we
are born.
◉ Adaptive immune system.
Answer: Specific and a delayed/slower lymphocyte response to
specific antigens. T cells and B cells. Page 15
◉ MYCN amplification.
Answer: key risk stratifier for treatment/therapy in neuroblastoma;
technique by which MYCN protein drives cells into the cell cycle;
leading to extra MYCN protein; detected by FISH
◉ I-MIBG.
Answer: Absorbed by tissues containing adrenergic nerves and us
sued in then diagnosis, staging, and follow up of neuroblastoma. It is
taken up by an active tumor, minimizing the false-positive results
that may show in a bone scan. After the tracer is administered,
patients are seen 24, 48, and 72 hours for imaging. To protect the
