ONCOLOGY 2026 CORE EXAM MANUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What gene mutation is one of the most common genetic changes associated with
cancer and is estimated to occur in half of all malignancies? - ✔✔Mutation of p53 genes
✔✔What is the cell-cycle clock? - ✔✔- Provide stimulatory and inhibitory signals that
ultimately regulate the cell cycle
- These signals come together on a molecular system in the nucleus
✔✔What are 2 functions of the cell-cycle clock in normal tissue? - ✔✔- To integrate the
signal input
- To determine if cell cycle should proceed
✔✔Apoptosis - ✔✔programmed cell death
✔✔Cellular senescence - ✔✔Loss of proliferative ability over time (aging)
✔✔Apoptosis and cellular senescence are examples of.... - ✔✔secondary defenses
(activated when normal regulatory mechanisms for cellular growth fail)
✔✔T/F: A single mutation is probably insufficient to initiate cancer - ✔✔True,
combinations of mutations are required for carcinogenesis
✔✔What is the purpose of gene identification in carcinogenesis? - ✔✔- cancer
screening to identify individuals at risk for cancer
- Design new anticancer agents
✔✔List the 4 basic tissue types that a tumor can arise from. - ✔✔- Epithelial tissue
- Connective tissue (i.e. muscle, bone and cartilage)
- Lymphoid tissue
- Nerve tissue
✔✔How are precancerous lesions categorized? - ✔✔Hyperplastic or dysplastic cells
✔✔Hyperplasia - ✔✔Increase in the number of cells in a particular tissue or organ.
Results in increased size of the organ
✔✔Dysplasia - ✔✔Defined as an abnormal changes in the size, shape or organization
of cells or tissues
✔✔Carcinomas - ✔✔Malignant growths arising from epithelial cells
✔✔Sarcomas - ✔✔Malignant growths of muscle or connective tissue
, ✔✔Another term used frequently in description of malignancy is
________________________. - ✔✔carcinoma in situ
✔✔What are the 2 ways tumors can be characterized? - ✔✔Benign or malignant
✔✔T/F: Benign refers to a cancerous growth often resembling the cells from which they
developed. - ✔✔False, noncancerous growth
✔✔T/F: Benign tumors rarely metastasize and rarely recur once removed - ✔✔True
✔✔Malignant tumors - ✔✔invade and destroy surrounding tissues -> tend to
metastasize
✔✔Metastasis - ✔✔The spread of cancer cells beyond their original site
✔✔Is recurrence more common with benign or malignant tumors? - ✔✔Malignant
tumors
✔✔Neoplastic cells - ✔✔a new, abnormal growth that may be cancerous or
noncancerous
✔✔What are the 2 primary pathways of metastasis? - ✔✔- Hematogenous
- Lymphatic
✔✔T/F: Tumors are constantly shedding neoplastic cells into systemic circulation or
surrounding lymphatics - ✔✔True
✔✔Angiogenesis - ✔✔formation of new blood vessels to provide oxygen and nutrients
✔✔T/F: Large tumors are more responsive to chemotherapy - ✔✔False, small tumors
✔✔Why is early diagnosis difficult for many cancers? - ✔✔They do not produce clinical
signs or symptoms until they have become large or have metastasized
✔✔What is the purpose of cancer screening? - ✔✔designed to detect signs of cancer in
people who have not yet developed symptoms from cancer
✔✔List cancer's 7 warning signs. (Hint: CAUTION) - ✔✔Change in bowel or bladder
habits
A sore that does not heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What gene mutation is one of the most common genetic changes associated with
cancer and is estimated to occur in half of all malignancies? - ✔✔Mutation of p53 genes
✔✔What is the cell-cycle clock? - ✔✔- Provide stimulatory and inhibitory signals that
ultimately regulate the cell cycle
- These signals come together on a molecular system in the nucleus
✔✔What are 2 functions of the cell-cycle clock in normal tissue? - ✔✔- To integrate the
signal input
- To determine if cell cycle should proceed
✔✔Apoptosis - ✔✔programmed cell death
✔✔Cellular senescence - ✔✔Loss of proliferative ability over time (aging)
✔✔Apoptosis and cellular senescence are examples of.... - ✔✔secondary defenses
(activated when normal regulatory mechanisms for cellular growth fail)
✔✔T/F: A single mutation is probably insufficient to initiate cancer - ✔✔True,
combinations of mutations are required for carcinogenesis
✔✔What is the purpose of gene identification in carcinogenesis? - ✔✔- cancer
screening to identify individuals at risk for cancer
- Design new anticancer agents
✔✔List the 4 basic tissue types that a tumor can arise from. - ✔✔- Epithelial tissue
- Connective tissue (i.e. muscle, bone and cartilage)
- Lymphoid tissue
- Nerve tissue
✔✔How are precancerous lesions categorized? - ✔✔Hyperplastic or dysplastic cells
✔✔Hyperplasia - ✔✔Increase in the number of cells in a particular tissue or organ.
Results in increased size of the organ
✔✔Dysplasia - ✔✔Defined as an abnormal changes in the size, shape or organization
of cells or tissues
✔✔Carcinomas - ✔✔Malignant growths arising from epithelial cells
✔✔Sarcomas - ✔✔Malignant growths of muscle or connective tissue
, ✔✔Another term used frequently in description of malignancy is
________________________. - ✔✔carcinoma in situ
✔✔What are the 2 ways tumors can be characterized? - ✔✔Benign or malignant
✔✔T/F: Benign refers to a cancerous growth often resembling the cells from which they
developed. - ✔✔False, noncancerous growth
✔✔T/F: Benign tumors rarely metastasize and rarely recur once removed - ✔✔True
✔✔Malignant tumors - ✔✔invade and destroy surrounding tissues -> tend to
metastasize
✔✔Metastasis - ✔✔The spread of cancer cells beyond their original site
✔✔Is recurrence more common with benign or malignant tumors? - ✔✔Malignant
tumors
✔✔Neoplastic cells - ✔✔a new, abnormal growth that may be cancerous or
noncancerous
✔✔What are the 2 primary pathways of metastasis? - ✔✔- Hematogenous
- Lymphatic
✔✔T/F: Tumors are constantly shedding neoplastic cells into systemic circulation or
surrounding lymphatics - ✔✔True
✔✔Angiogenesis - ✔✔formation of new blood vessels to provide oxygen and nutrients
✔✔T/F: Large tumors are more responsive to chemotherapy - ✔✔False, small tumors
✔✔Why is early diagnosis difficult for many cancers? - ✔✔They do not produce clinical
signs or symptoms until they have become large or have metastasized
✔✔What is the purpose of cancer screening? - ✔✔designed to detect signs of cancer in
people who have not yet developed symptoms from cancer
✔✔List cancer's 7 warning signs. (Hint: CAUTION) - ✔✔Change in bowel or bladder
habits
A sore that does not heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
