APHON COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO
PASS
◉ necrosis. Answer: cell death that results from an insult, such as a
lack of blood supply, physical trauma, or cytotoxic therapy that leads
to rupture of the cell membrane and spilling of cell contents
◉ malignant cells. Answer: cells that do not have a finite number of
cell divisions as normal cells do; lost the ability to undergo
apoptosis; can keep replicating and dividing indefinitely
◉ aberrant cell division. Answer: the primary characteristic of
malignant cells
◉ tumor suppression genes. Answer: these keep normal cellular
growth in check by regulating cell division, DNA repair, and
apoptosis; if damaged or absent, cells lack the appropriate growth-
inhibiting signals and grow out of control
◉ nadir. Answer: the period of time after a course of chemotherapy
in which the patients blood counts are lowest
,◉ physical barrier. Answer: the first layer of defense that provides
protective immunity through anatomic barriers; ex. skin, mucous
membranes
◉ innate passive immunity. Answer: the second layer of defense that
provides rapid, nonspecific response to invading pathogens
◉ adaptive acquired immunity. Answer: the third layer of defense
◉ tumor marker. Answer: a characteristic feature or byproduct of a
tumor cell that serves as a useful indication of tumor cell origin or
tumor activity
◉ risk stratification. Answer: allows for tailoring therapy after
consideration of factors beyond those traditional staging systems;
this approach allows for early intensification of treatment
◉ pharmacokinetics. Answer: the movement of a drug in the body
and studies how the body affects the administered drug
◉ pharmacogenetics. Answer: the study of how a person's genetic
makeup affects that person's response to drug therapy
, ◉ surgery. Answer: often used as a method for treating cancer with
the primary goal being to reduce the tumor burden so that any
remaining cancer cells can be more effectively destroyed by host
immunologic factors, chemo, or immunotherapy
◉ resection. Answer: surgical treatment of a tumor by removing it
◉ complete resection. Answer: surgical treatment that involves the
removal of all visible and microscopic evidence of the tumor
◉ partial resection. Answer: surgical debulking that involves
resecting a portion of the tumor because the entire mass cannot be
completely or safely removed
◉ chemotherapy. Answer: drug therapy aimed at reducing visible
tumor volume by cytotoxic effects and preventing tumor cell division
and spread; agents are designed to kill malignant cells during
different phases of the cell cycle
◉ radiation therapy. Answer: the goal of treatment is to target the
tumor for destruction while sparing the surrounding tissues
◉ autologous transplant. Answer: the patient is both the donor and
the recipient, often given as a "rescue" after high-dose chemo when
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO
PASS
◉ necrosis. Answer: cell death that results from an insult, such as a
lack of blood supply, physical trauma, or cytotoxic therapy that leads
to rupture of the cell membrane and spilling of cell contents
◉ malignant cells. Answer: cells that do not have a finite number of
cell divisions as normal cells do; lost the ability to undergo
apoptosis; can keep replicating and dividing indefinitely
◉ aberrant cell division. Answer: the primary characteristic of
malignant cells
◉ tumor suppression genes. Answer: these keep normal cellular
growth in check by regulating cell division, DNA repair, and
apoptosis; if damaged or absent, cells lack the appropriate growth-
inhibiting signals and grow out of control
◉ nadir. Answer: the period of time after a course of chemotherapy
in which the patients blood counts are lowest
,◉ physical barrier. Answer: the first layer of defense that provides
protective immunity through anatomic barriers; ex. skin, mucous
membranes
◉ innate passive immunity. Answer: the second layer of defense that
provides rapid, nonspecific response to invading pathogens
◉ adaptive acquired immunity. Answer: the third layer of defense
◉ tumor marker. Answer: a characteristic feature or byproduct of a
tumor cell that serves as a useful indication of tumor cell origin or
tumor activity
◉ risk stratification. Answer: allows for tailoring therapy after
consideration of factors beyond those traditional staging systems;
this approach allows for early intensification of treatment
◉ pharmacokinetics. Answer: the movement of a drug in the body
and studies how the body affects the administered drug
◉ pharmacogenetics. Answer: the study of how a person's genetic
makeup affects that person's response to drug therapy
, ◉ surgery. Answer: often used as a method for treating cancer with
the primary goal being to reduce the tumor burden so that any
remaining cancer cells can be more effectively destroyed by host
immunologic factors, chemo, or immunotherapy
◉ resection. Answer: surgical treatment of a tumor by removing it
◉ complete resection. Answer: surgical treatment that involves the
removal of all visible and microscopic evidence of the tumor
◉ partial resection. Answer: surgical debulking that involves
resecting a portion of the tumor because the entire mass cannot be
completely or safely removed
◉ chemotherapy. Answer: drug therapy aimed at reducing visible
tumor volume by cytotoxic effects and preventing tumor cell division
and spread; agents are designed to kill malignant cells during
different phases of the cell cycle
◉ radiation therapy. Answer: the goal of treatment is to target the
tumor for destruction while sparing the surrounding tissues
◉ autologous transplant. Answer: the patient is both the donor and
the recipient, often given as a "rescue" after high-dose chemo when
