Chapter 14 The Genetics of Cancer

Chapter 14: The Genetics of Cancer ____ 1. A patient states that she has heard that the origin of most cancers is “genetic.” What is the best ____ 2. Which theory of carcinogenesis has the most support? A. DNA damage, which permits overexpression of oncogenes ____ 3. By which process does “promotion” assist in cancer development? B. Stimulating or enhancing cell division of cells damaged by a carcinogen ____ 4. How is progression different from metastasis? D. Progression involves continual gene changes in a cancer cell that enhance its response? B. “Cancers arise in cells that have alterations in the genes.” degree of malignancy, whereas metastasis is the ability of the cell to invade other tissues. ____ 5. Which of the following benign tumors usually express aneuploidy? A. Lipomas ____ 6. How is a complete carcinogen different from an incomplete carcinogen? D. Complete carcinogens are more likely to induce sporadic cancers. ____ 7. Which statement regarding the biology of cancer is always true? A. Cancer cells arise from normal cells. ____ 8. Which of these qualities is common to cancer cells? D. They continue to grow even when surrounded by other cells. ____ 9. How are malignant tumors different from benign tumors? C. Benign tumors retain parental cell functions, and malignant tumors lose parental cell functions. ____ 10. Which feature is considered anaplastic? A. Loss of a distinctive appearance ____ 11. Which cancer type is associated with a 9;22 translocation t(9;22)? D. Chronic myelogenous leukemia ____ 12. By which process does “initiation” assist in cancer development? B. Inflicting mutations at specific sites on the exposed cell’s DNA ____ 13. Which statement best describes the role of tumor suppressor genes in cancer development? A. Tumor suppressor genes control or modify the activity of oncogenes, reducing the risk for cancer development. ____ 14. Which type of body tissue has the highest risk for cancer development? D. Any tissue that retains the ability to divide ____ 15. What event occurring during the latency period of carcinogenesis is most likely to contribute to cancer development? C. Exposure to promoters ____ 16. What is the result of a mutation occurring in a suppressor gene? B. Loss of an existing function ____ 17. Which statement regarding general cancer development is true? A. The risk for cancer development increases with age. ____ 18. How does an MSH2 gene mutation contribute to the development of colon cancer? B. DNA mutations are incorrectly repaired. ____ 19. Why are people who have poor DNA repair mechanisms at greater risk for cancer development? C. Their somatic mutations are more likely to be permanent. ____ 20. How does an acquired mutation in a somatic cell gene leading to cancer development affect a person's ability to pass on a predisposition for that cancer type to his or her children? D. There is no risk of passing on a cancer predisposition from a somatic cell mutation. ____ 21. What is the function of a normal BRCA1 gene? D. Suppresses the growth potential of a variety of oncogenes ____ 22. Which feature is associated exclusively with sporadic cancer? C. It occurs at the same frequency within a kindred as in the general population. ____ 23. What percentage of common cancers appears to be hereditary? B. 5% to 15% ____ 24. Which characteristic(s) is/are associated with an inherited predisposition for a cancer type? A. Cancers tend to appear at an earlier age than do “sporadic” cancers. ____ 25. Juliet tells a nurse that she has three aunts (two on her father’s side, ages 42 and 56, and one on her mother’s side, age 62) who were diagnosed with breast cancer. She asks if she should have genetic testing. What should the nurse tell her? D. “Your family history may indicate an increased risk for breast cancer, and a genetic counselor could help determine whether you could benefit from genetic testing.” ____ 26. A 40-year-old man who has a mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45, a father who was diagnosed with smoking-related lung cancer at age 55, a 33-year-old sister with breast cancer, and a 38-year-old sister with ovarian cancer asks if he should be concerned for his cancer risk. What is the best response? C. “Your risk for breast cancer may be increased and requires more investigation; however, your risk for lung cancer is not affected by this history.” ____ 27. Which statement about a “germline” mutation in either a cancer suppressor gene or an oncogene is accurate? C. Cancer risk increases, but additional mutations are required for cancer development. ____ 28. A 22-year-old college student tells his nurse practitioner in the student health center that his mother died of colon cancer at age 32. He asks if this could have an impact on his health. What is your best response? B. “Yes, it would be good for you to talk with a genetics counselor.” ____ 29. Which personal factors indicate the possibility of a person having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation? Select all that apply. B. The person’s brother was diagnosed with breast cancer. D. The patient’s father died of pancreatic cancer at age 44. E. The person is of Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity. ____ 30. Mutations in which of the following genes are now known to greatly increase the risk for developing breast cancer? Select all that apply. B. CDH1 C. CHEK2 E. PALB2 F. PTEN