Anaplasia and Cell Biology

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Questions and Answers

What does 'anaplasia' refer to?

Loss of differentiation of cells (correct)
Cancerous tumor made up of cells of epithelial origin
Noncancerous growth
Change in the genetic material of a cell

What are antibiotics?

Chemotherapeutic drugs found in bacteria and fungi that inhibit cell division by causing breaks in DNA strands.

What is apoptosis?

Programmed cell death.

What is a benign tumor?

A noncancerous growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is brachytherapy?

Radiotherapy that uses sealed containers inserted into body cavities or radioactive seeds directly into the tumor. Signup and view all the answers

What are carcinogens?

Agents that cause cancer including chemicals, drugs, radiation, and viruses. Signup and view all the answers

What is carcinoma?

A cancerous tumor made up of cells of epithelial origin. Signup and view all the answers

What is chemotherapy?

Treatment with drugs. Signup and view all the answers

What is genetic screening?

Testing to determine whether patients or family members have inherited a cancer-causing gene. Signup and view all the answers

What is immunotherapy?

Cancer treatment using immune cells and antibodies to kill tumor cells. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'invasive' mean in a medical context?

Having the ability to enter and destroy surrounding tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What is a malignant tumor?

A tumor having the characteristics of continuous growth, invasiveness, and metastasis. Signup and view all the answers

What is metastasis?

Spread of a malignant tumor to a secondary site. Signup and view all the answers

What is modality in medical treatment?

Method of treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or irradiation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a mutation?

Change in the genetic material (DNA) of a cell. Signup and view all the answers

What is a neoplasm?

New growth; benign or malignant tumor. Signup and view all the answers

What is radiation?

Energy carried by a stream of particles. Signup and view all the answers

What is a radiosensitive tumor?

Tumor in which radiation can cause the death of cells without serious damage to surrounding tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What is radiotherapy?

Treatment of tumors using doses of radiation. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'relapse' mean in cancer treatment?

Recurrence of tumor after treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is remission?

Partial or complete disappearance of symptoms of disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is a sarcoma?

Cancerous tumor derived from connective or flesh tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What is staging of tumors?

A system of evaluating the extent of spread of tumors. Signup and view all the answers

What is stereotactic radiosurgery?

Technique in which a single large dose of radiation is delivered under precise 3D guidance. Signup and view all the answers

What is a virus?

Infectious agent that reproduces by entering a host cell and using the host's genetic material. Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Anaplasia and Tumors

Anaplasia: Characterized by the loss of differentiation in cells, reverting to a primitive state, often associated with malignant growths.
Benign Tumor: A noncancerous neoplasm that typically does not invade surrounding tissues.
Malignant Tumor: Exhibits continuous growth, invasive characteristics, and the potential for metastasis.
Neoplasm: Refers to any new growth, which can be benign or malignant.

Cancer Terminology

Carcinogens: Agents that can cause cancer, including certain chemicals, drugs, radiation, and viruses.
Carcinoma: Malignant tumors that arise from epithelial cells.
Sarcoma: Cancerous tumors originating from connective or fleshy tissue.
Metastasis: The process of cancer spreading from the primary site to secondary locations in the body.

Treatment Modalities

Chemotherapy: The use of drugs to treat cancer, effectively targeting rapidly dividing cells.
Radiotherapy: The use of radiation to treat tumors, aiming to kill cancerous cells.
Brachytherapy: Involves inserting radioactive materials directly into or near tumors.
Radiosurgery: Delivers precise radiation doses to eliminate small tumors or vascular abnormalities.
Immunotherapy: Leverages the body's immune system to attack and destroy tumor cells.

Cellular Processes

Apoptosis: A normal physiological process of programmed cell death; many cancer cells evade this mechanism.
Mutation: Refers to alterations in the DNA of cells, which may arise from environmental factors or occur spontaneously.

Diagnosis and Monitoring

Genetic Screening: Tests conducted on patients to identify inherited cancer-causing genes.
Staging of Tumors: Processes for assessing the extent of cancer spread, commonly using the TNM system.
Relapse: The recurrence of cancer after treatment has been completed.
Remission: A state where symptoms of disease diminish or disappear, either partially or completely.

Additional Concepts

Invasive: Describes tumors that can penetrate and damage surrounding tissues.
Radiosensitive Tumor: Tumors that are particularly susceptible to radiation treatment, causing little harm to adjacent healthy tissue.
Modality: Refers to the specific method of treatment applied, e.g., chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy.