A 40-year-old female developed adenocarcinoma of the vagina. ...

[future617RT]

A 40-year-old female developed adenocarcinoma of the vagina. Which prenatal event is the most likely cause of her cancer?
 
  a. Rb gene mutation
  b. Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES)
  c. Exposure to solvents
  d. Exposure to radiation

Question 2

What event occurs in about 70 of the cases of childhood cancers?
 
  a. Cured
  b. Required only chemotherapy
  c. Participated in clinical trails
  d. Developed a secondary malignancy

[Joy Chen]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The patient with adenocarcinoma of the vagina most likely experienced prenatal exposure to DES, not an Rb gene mutation or exposure to solvents or radiation.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
More than 70 of children diagnosed with cancer are cured. Some of the factors leading to im-proved cure rates in pediatric oncology include the use of combination chemotherapy or multi-modal treatment for solid childhood tumors and improvements in nursing and supportive care. A partial explanation for the relative lack of progress in curing the adolescent population at the same rate as that realized in the younger pediatric population is the lack of participation in clinical trials. While survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of developing a second malig-nancy later in life, it is not as frequent as 70.