Question 1

A(n) ________ is an abnormal mass of tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and usually remains at the site where it forms.

Accepted Answer

benign tumor

Question 2

Certain new cancer therapies deal with the inhibition of angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels). How would inhibition of blood vessel formation be beneficial in terms of treating cancer?

Accepted Answer

Blocking blood vessel formation to a tumor ultimately starves the tumor and blocks routes by which malignant cells can enter the bloodstream and travel to other sites.

Question 3

Describe the cancer stem cell hypothesis. How might this explain the inability of traditional cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy to completely eradicate tumors?

Accepted Answer

The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that only certain cells in a tumor are capable of continual cell division and initiating the growth of new tumors. Traditional cancer therapies have focused on killing the rapidly dividing cancer cells (progenitor cells) but may not target cancer stem cells. Thus, although death of progenitor cells would shrink the tumor, cancer stem cells could replenish the population, causing the tumor to return.

Question 4

Dietary choices that can increase the risk of certain cancers include ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  diets high in saturated fats 
B)  diets high in antioxidants 
C)  high-fiber diets 
D)  diets low in cured foods 
A)  diets high in saturated fats 
B)  diets high in antioxidants 
C)  high-fiber diets 
D)  diets low in cured foods

Question 5

An adult patient has just received a diagnosis of brain cancer and is undergoing treatment. Based on what you know about cell division and cancer, why does this seem unusual?

Accepted Answer

In adults, neurons typically do not unde

Question 6

In order to be successful, chemotherapy drugs have to stop cell division. The most likely method for this would be to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  denature all the enzymes in the cell so division can't occur 
B)  speed up the cell cycle in the cancerous cells 
C)  stop cellular respiration so the cancerous cells don't have energy 
D)  interfere with the function of the spindle fibers 
A)  denature all the enzymes in the cell so division can't occur 
B)  speed up the cell cycle in the cancerous cells 
C)  stop cellular respiration so the cancerous cells don't have energy 
D)  interfere with the function of the spindle fibers

Question 7

How does chemotherapy work as a treatment for cancer? Why is it not always effective?

Accepted Answer

Chemotherapy relies on toxic drugs that

Question 8

This chapter discussed six different ways to treat cancer. List at least five, and briefly explain each process.

Accepted Answer

Surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, chemo

Question 9

Cells can activate a genetic suicide program in response to a signal in the body. This programmed cell death is called ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cells can activate a genetic suicide program...

Question 10

The risk of cancer can be reduced by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  decreasing fruit intake because fruits can be carcinogenic 
B)  smoking more because nicotine can kill cancerous cells 
C)  avoiding unnecessary medical x-rays 
D)  increasing saturated fats in the diet 
A)  decreasing fruit intake because fruits can be carcinogenic 
B)  smoking more because nicotine can kill cancerous cells 
C)  avoiding unnecessary medical x-rays 
D)  increasing saturated fats in the diet

Question 11

An allele known as BRCA1 is often found in women with breast and ovarian cancer. However, some women develop these cancers and do not have the BRCA1 allele. In addition, some women who have BRCA1 never develop breast or ovarian cancer. How can this be explained?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is just chance whether cancer will develop. 
B)  These types of cancers are in no way associated with specific alleles. 
C)  Something other than the gene must factor into whether cancer develops. 
D)  The BRCA1 allele must be dominant. 
A)  It is just chance whether cancer will develop. 
B)  These types of cancers are in no way associated with specific alleles. 
C)  Something other than the gene must factor into whether cancer develops. 
D)  The BRCA1 allele must be dominant.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a characteristic of cancerous cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  immortality 
B)  contact inhibition 
C)  unusual shapes and sizes 
D)  All of the above are characteristics of cancerous cells. 
A)  immortality 
B)  contact inhibition 
C)  unusual shapes and sizes 
D)  All of the above are characteristics of cancerous cells.

Question 13

An oncologist (a physician who specializes in cancer) compares two biopsy samples by looking at the percentage of cells in mitosis. Sample 1 has 15% of cells in mitosis, and sample 2 has 8% of cells in mitosis. These samples are of the same tissue type. Which sample is likely to be cancerous, and why? Why is it important that the two samples being compared came from the same tissue type?

Accepted Answer

Sample 1 is more likely to be cancerous

Question 14

Which of the following cancers is often not detected in women until a late stage because of a lack of routine diagnostic testing?

Accepted Answer

A)  prostate 
B)  cervical 
C)  ovarian 
D)  breast 
A)  prostate 
B)  cervical 
C)  ovarian 
D)  breast

Question 15

If a person had cancer that had already metastasized by the time of diagnosis, the treatment options at this point would most likely include ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  surgery 
B)  radiation 
C)  chemotherapy 
D)  immunotherapy 
A)  surgery 
B)  radiation 
C)  chemotherapy 
D)  immunotherapy

Question 16

Which type of cancer had the largest percentage of deaths among women in 2012?

Accepted Answer

A)  breast 
B)  ovarian 
C)  pancreatic 
D)  lung and bronchus 
A)  breast 
B)  ovarian 
C)  pancreatic 
D)  lung and bronchus

Question 17

Explain why malignant tumors are more dangerous than benign tumors.

Accepted Answer

Malignant tumors are invasive and have t

Question 18

Which statement concerning cell division and cancer is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Normal cells are limited in how many times they can divide. 
B)  Cancerous cells can become immortal. 
C)  Oncogenes protect against cancer. 
D)  Apoptosis can be used to kill cancerous cells in the body. 
A)  Normal cells are limited in how many times they can divide. 
B)  Cancerous cells can become immortal. 
C)  Oncogenes protect against cancer. 
D)  Apoptosis can be used to kill cancerous cells in the body.

Question 19

Which of the following is a typical means of halting normal cell division?

Accepted Answer

A)  the shortening of telomeres 
B)  increasing the activity of p53 
C)  activating oncogenes 
D)  triggering apoptosis 
A)  the shortening of telomeres 
B)  increasing the activity of p53 
C)  activating oncogenes 
D)  triggering apoptosis

Question 20

The removal and analysis of a piece of tissue that is suspected to be cancerous is called a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The removal and analysis of a piece...

Exam 31: Special Topic: Cancer

A(n) ________ is an abnormal mass of tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and usually remains at the site where it forms.

Certain new cancer therapies deal with the inhibition of angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels). How would inhibition of blood vessel formation be beneficial in terms of treating cancer?

Describe the cancer stem cell hypothesis. How might this explain the inability of traditional cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy to completely eradicate tumors?

Dietary choices that can increase the risk of certain cancers include ________.

An adult patient has just received a diagnosis of brain cancer and is undergoing treatment. Based on what you know about cell division and cancer, why does this seem unusual?

In order to be successful, chemotherapy drugs have to stop cell division. The most likely method for this would be to ________.

How does chemotherapy work as a treatment for cancer? Why is it not always effective?

This chapter discussed six different ways to treat cancer. List at least five, and briefly explain each process.

Cells can activate a genetic suicide program in response to a signal in the body. This programmed cell death is called ________.

The risk of cancer can be reduced by ________.

An allele known as BRCA1 is often found in women with breast and ovarian cancer. However, some women develop these cancers and do not have the BRCA1 allele. In addition, some women who have BRCA1 never develop breast or ovarian cancer. How can this be explained?

Which of the following is not a characteristic of cancerous cells?

Which of the following cancers is often not detected in women until a late stage because of a lack of routine diagnostic testing?

If a person had cancer that had already metastasized by the time of diagnosis, the treatment options at this point would most likely include ________.

Which type of cancer had the largest percentage of deaths among women in 2012?

Explain why malignant tumors are more dangerous than benign tumors.

Which statement concerning cell division and cancer is incorrect?

Which of the following is a typical means of halting normal cell division?

The removal and analysis of a piece of tissue that is suspected to be cancerous is called a(n) ________.

Humans in the World of Biology

Becoming a Patient: a Major Decision

Chemistry Comes to Life

The Cell

Body Organization and Homeostasis

The Skeletal System

The Muscular System

Neurons: the Matter of the Mind

The Nervous System

Special Topic: Drugs and the Mind

Sensory Systems

The Endocrine System

Special Topic: Diabetes Mellitus

Blood

The Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

Special Topic: Cardiovascular Disease

Body Defense Mechanisms

Special Topic: Infectious Disease

The Respiratory System

The Digestive System and Nutrition

Special Topic: the Obesity Epidemic

The Urinary System

Reproductive Systems

Special Topic: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Aids

Development Throughout Life

Special Topic: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Chromosomes and Cell Division

Stem Cellsa Repair Kit for the Body

Genetics and Human Inheritance

DNA and Biotechnology

Evolution and Our Heritage

Ecology, the Environment, and Us

Human Population, Limited Resources, and Pollution

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