Cancer Cells and Cancer Stem Cells

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What is the primary function of the immune inflammatory cells present in tumors?

To only promote tumor growth

To have no effect on tumor growth

To play a dual role, both promoting and killing tumors (correct)

To only kill tumors

What characterizes the stromal cell types during tumor progression?

They remain constant and unchanged

They evolve and change during progression (correct)

They are absent in primary tumors

They decrease in abundance

What is the role of the extracellular matrix in tumor microenvironments?

It evolves during progression, enabling primary, invasive, and metastatic growth (correct)

It hinders tumor growth

It is a passive component of the tumor microenvironment

It is only present in primary tumors

What is the result of the succession of tumor microenvironments during tumor progression?

Tumor growth and progression are enabled Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the stromal cell types and tumor growth?

They collectively enable tumor growth and progression Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the surrounding normal cells in the primary and metastatic sites?

They likely affect the character of the various neoplastic microenvironments Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the reciprocal heterotypic signaling interactions in the tumor microenvironment?

To maintain the collective contributions of assorted cell types Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of the changes in intracellular signaling during tumor progression?

Development of a more aggressive phenotype Signup and view all the answers

What influences the predisposition to spawn metastatic lesions in cancer cells?

The differentiation program of the normal cell-of-origin Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe certain organ sites that are permissive for metastatic seeding and colonization?

Fertile soil or metastatic niches Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of cancer stem cells in tumorigenesis and metastasis?

They are involved in some or all stages of primary tumorigenesis and metastasis Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the systemic actions of primary tumors on distant organ sites?

Induction of local properties that are permissive for metastatic seeding and colonization Signup and view all the answers

What is the prevailing understanding of tumors in recent years?

Organs with complexity similar to healthy tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of studying the tumor microenvironment?

Understanding the collective functions of specialized cell types Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of carcinomas?

The neoplastic cells form a distinct compartment from the tumor-associated stroma Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of studying individual cell types within the tumor microenvironment?

To understand the collective functions of these cells Signup and view all the answers

What has led to a shift in perspective on tumor biology?

The recognition of tumors as complex organs Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the concept of 'tumor microenvironment'?

The tumor is a complex entity comprising diverse cell types Signup and view all the answers