Hao Nguyen

1. What are the major properties or characteristics of cancer cells? Compare these characteristics with those exhibited by "normal," non-cancerous cells. What is/are the importance of these characteristics? How are they connected with the formation tumors, both benign and malignant?

2. What is tumor staging and what does it tell you about the particular tumor observed? How is tumor grading used toward the prognosis of cancer?

3. From our discussion so far in class, what is the one characteristic that is exhibited in carcinogenesis (the formation of cancer cells)?

4. How are cancers named? What is the significance of these names? What can you tell from just the name?

5. What type or types of tissue are more likely to become cancerous? Why?

6. What is a tumor? Is a tumor a cancer? Do all cancers form tumors? Are there cancers that do not form tumors? Then how do you know that it's a cancer?

7. Are there signs that signify the possibility of the presence of cancer in one's body? What are they? How did these signs arise? Are these signs indicative of cancers only or can they signify the presence of other diseases?

8. What is/are the difference(s) between a benign and malignant tumor? Why is one type of tumor more (a lot more) fatal than the other? How can a tumor kill?

9. Name the various types of DNA mutation. How is each produced? How are DNA mutations related to carcinogenesis? Is the presence of carcinogens the only way to cause DNA mutation?

10. How can the cell get rid of DNA mutations? Name and describe the mechanism of all DNA repair systems discussed in class. Why are there so many different types of DNA repair system? What might happen when a cell possesses only one type?

11. If there are DNA repair systems, then why do animals still acquire cancers?