Epigenetic mechanisms in cancer — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: If a patient inherits or develops a mutation in a _____ gene, the complementary allele must be deleted/mutated before cancer develops

Answer: tumor suppressor

Flashcard 2: Myelodysplastic syndromes are caused by _____ or environmental exposure (e.g. radiation, benzene, chemotherapy)

Answer: de novo mutations (genetics)

Flashcard 3: Which tumor suppressor genes are associated with breast, ovarian, fallopian and pancreatic cancer?_____

Answer: BRCA1/BRCA2

Flashcard 4: Mutations in which tumor suppressor genes can lead to Breast, Ovarian, and Pancreatic cancers?_____

Answer: BRCA1/BRCA2

Flashcard 5: Telomerase activity is _____ in cancer

Answer: upregulated

Flashcard 6: Abnormal expression of miRNAs contributes to certain _____ (e.g. by silencing an mRNA from a tumor suppressor gene)

Answer: malignancies

Flashcard 7: There is an increased incidence of medullary carcinoma of the breast (a subtype of invasive ductal carcinoma) in patients with _____ mutations

Answer: BRCA1

Flashcard 8: Ovarian tumor associated with a pulling sensation in the groin and histology showing bundles of spindle-shaped fibroblasts?

Answer: Ovarian Fibroma

Extra: • Clinical: Pulling sensation in groin. • Histology: Bundles of spindle-shaped fibroblasts. • Association: Meigs syndrome (Ovarian fibroma, Ascites, Hydrothorax).

Flashcard 9: What is the characteristic histological finding and cell type in a Brenner tumor?

Answer: "Coffee bean" nuclei; contains Walthard cell rests (transitional epithelium)

Extra: Brenner tumor: - Mostly benign ovarian surface epithelial tumor. - Histology: Characterized by "coffee bean" nuclei (longitudinal nuclear grooves) and nests of transitional epithelium (resembling bladder mucosa) called Walthard cell rests. - Gross: Solid, tan-white/yellow, well-encapsulated.

Flashcard 10: Is mucinous cystadenocarcinoma benign or malignant?

Answer: Malignant

Extra: Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is the malignant counterpart of mucinous cystadenoma. It is a common primary surface epithelial tumor of the ovary, characterized by multiloculated cysts lined by atypically proliferated mucinous epithelium showing stromal invasion.