APHON Exam UPDATED QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
The cell cycle - CORRECT ANSWER G0: No active replication or preparing to divide.
G1: The cell grows larger and produces more ribosomes and proteins
S: All 46 chromosomes are replicated
G2: Synthesis occurs
M: aka mitosis is the division of the cells
Programmed cell death or natural cell death is called - CORRECT ANSWER apoptosis
This results from an insult such as lack of blood supply, physical trauma, or cytotoxic therapies -
CORRECT ANSWER cellular necrosis
Malignant cells - CORRECT ANSWER Do not have the ability to undergo apoptosis, they have
a characteristic known as immortalization
The primary characteristic of a malignant cell is - CORRECT ANSWER aberrant cell division
Proto-oncogenes - CORRECT ANSWER Regulate normal cell growth and repair
Oncogenes - CORRECT ANSWER Are mutated proto- oncogenes that allow unrestricted cell
proliferation
Example of an oncogene - CORRECT ANSWER N-MYC (associated with neuroblastoma and
glioblastoma
Examples of DNA repair genes - CORRECT ANSWER BRCA1 and BRCA2
Tumor suppressor genes - CORRECT ANSWER Keep normal cellular growth in check by
regulating cellular division, DNA repair and apoptosis. If these genes are damaged or absent, cells
grow out of control. CAUSE APOPTOSIS
, A hallmark of cancer - CORRECT ANSWER An increase in genetic instability and mutation
rates
Why are multiple chemotherapeutic agents combined - CORRECT ANSWER To overcome
drug resistance
Nadir - CORRECT ANSWER Lowest level of neutrophil count in patient, usually on day 7-10.
Patient's are at greatest risk for infection during this time
Blood cell development begins with a primitive cell known as - CORRECT
ANSWER Hematopoietic stem cell
Chemo and radiation therapy kills cells that divide rapidly such as - CORRECT
ANSWER epidermal cells, bone marrow cells, epithelial lining of the GI tract, and the
oropharynx
The immune system has 3 layers: p. 11 - CORRECT ANSWER Physical barrier, innate or
nonspecific immune system, and the adaptive (or acquired) immune system
Adaptive immunity - CORRECT ANSWER Creates an immunologic memory. ex: covid shot.
The others don't
tumor markers - CORRECT ANSWER A characteristic feature or byproduct of a tumor cell that
serves as a useful indication of tumor origin or activity. They are usually elevated at diagnosis and
decrease in response to therapy. Ex: urine catecholamines (VMA) and HVA are elevated in most
neuroblastoma patients
Common classification for general staging of malignancies - CORRECT ANSWER TNM
system
T: Primary tumor size
N: Presence or absence of lymph node involvement
M: metasteses
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
The cell cycle - CORRECT ANSWER G0: No active replication or preparing to divide.
G1: The cell grows larger and produces more ribosomes and proteins
S: All 46 chromosomes are replicated
G2: Synthesis occurs
M: aka mitosis is the division of the cells
Programmed cell death or natural cell death is called - CORRECT ANSWER apoptosis
This results from an insult such as lack of blood supply, physical trauma, or cytotoxic therapies -
CORRECT ANSWER cellular necrosis
Malignant cells - CORRECT ANSWER Do not have the ability to undergo apoptosis, they have
a characteristic known as immortalization
The primary characteristic of a malignant cell is - CORRECT ANSWER aberrant cell division
Proto-oncogenes - CORRECT ANSWER Regulate normal cell growth and repair
Oncogenes - CORRECT ANSWER Are mutated proto- oncogenes that allow unrestricted cell
proliferation
Example of an oncogene - CORRECT ANSWER N-MYC (associated with neuroblastoma and
glioblastoma
Examples of DNA repair genes - CORRECT ANSWER BRCA1 and BRCA2
Tumor suppressor genes - CORRECT ANSWER Keep normal cellular growth in check by
regulating cellular division, DNA repair and apoptosis. If these genes are damaged or absent, cells
grow out of control. CAUSE APOPTOSIS
, A hallmark of cancer - CORRECT ANSWER An increase in genetic instability and mutation
rates
Why are multiple chemotherapeutic agents combined - CORRECT ANSWER To overcome
drug resistance
Nadir - CORRECT ANSWER Lowest level of neutrophil count in patient, usually on day 7-10.
Patient's are at greatest risk for infection during this time
Blood cell development begins with a primitive cell known as - CORRECT
ANSWER Hematopoietic stem cell
Chemo and radiation therapy kills cells that divide rapidly such as - CORRECT
ANSWER epidermal cells, bone marrow cells, epithelial lining of the GI tract, and the
oropharynx
The immune system has 3 layers: p. 11 - CORRECT ANSWER Physical barrier, innate or
nonspecific immune system, and the adaptive (or acquired) immune system
Adaptive immunity - CORRECT ANSWER Creates an immunologic memory. ex: covid shot.
The others don't
tumor markers - CORRECT ANSWER A characteristic feature or byproduct of a tumor cell that
serves as a useful indication of tumor origin or activity. They are usually elevated at diagnosis and
decrease in response to therapy. Ex: urine catecholamines (VMA) and HVA are elevated in most
neuroblastoma patients
Common classification for general staging of malignancies - CORRECT ANSWER TNM
system
T: Primary tumor size
N: Presence or absence of lymph node involvement
M: metasteses
