Cancer Biology & Pathology Flashcards

Which of the following is a defining feature that distinguishes malignant tumors from benign tumors?

Answer: Capacity to invade and metastasize to distant sites

The hallmark of malignancy is the ability of tumor cells to invade surrounding tissue and spread (metastasize) to distant organs, which benign tumors cannot do.

In ICD-O-3 coding, what does the morphology code represent?

Answer: The histologic cell type and behavior of the neoplasm

The ICD-O-3 morphology code is a 5-digit code combining a 4-digit histology code (describing cell type) with a 1-digit behavior code (e.g., /3 for malignant).

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by the absence of which three receptors or proteins?

Answer: Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2

Triple-negative breast cancer lacks estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 overexpression, making it ineligible for hormone therapy or HER2-targeted agents.

The term 'anaplastic' when describing a tumor indicates:

Answer: Tumor cells lack differentiation and typically behave aggressively

Anaplastic tumors are characterized by a complete loss of differentiation, pleomorphic nuclei, and high mitotic activity, generally correlating with aggressive clinical behavior.

Squamous cell carcinoma typically arises from which tissue type?

Answer: Stratified squamous epithelium

Squamous cell carcinoma originates from squamous epithelial cells and is commonly found in the skin, cervix, head and neck, esophagus, and lung.

Which pathologic finding indicates that cancer cells have entered blood vessels or lymphatic channels within the tumor specimen?

Answer: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI)

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is documented when cancer cells are identified within vascular or lymphatic spaces, which is associated with increased risk of metastasis and recurrence.

A tumor described as 'well-differentiated' most accurately means:

Answer: The tumor cells closely resemble the normal cells of the tissue of origin

Well-differentiated (Grade 1) tumors retain features similar to the normal parent tissue, are typically slower growing, and generally carry a more favorable prognosis.