7.0 Cancer Flashcards
What can the genetic changes in cancer be due to?
<b>1) Mutations</b><br></br>- Anything that alters DNA sequence<br></br><br></br><b>2) Epigenetics</b><br></br>- Methylation / histone modifications<br></br><br></br><b>3) Viruses</b><br></br>- Tumour viruses bring extra genes into cell
What normally precedes a colorectal malignant tumour?
Polyp/adenoma
Common sites for metastasis:
1) Brain<br></br>2) Liver<br></br>3) Bone marrow<br></br>4) Lung
Where does breast cancer normally metastasise?
Local lymph nodes and bone
Where does colorectal cancer normally metastasise?
Liver
Define lipoma:
Benign fat cell tumour
Define leiomyoma:
Benign smooth muscle tumour
Define Adenoma:
Benign tumour of glandular tissue
Define papilloma:
Wart
Define carcinoma:
Malignant epithelial tumour
Define adenocarcinoma:
Malignant epithelial tumour of glandular origin
Define liposarcoma:
Malignant fat cell tumour
Define leimyosarcoma:
Malignant smooth muscle tumour
Define osteosarcoma:
Malignant bone tumour
What are neuroblastomas / glioblastomas?
Both are <b>malignant</b> neural tumours
Difference between leukaemias and lymphomas:
Leukaemias = Liquid haematopoietic neoplasms<br></br><br></br>Lymphomas = Solid haematopoietic neoplasms (usually lymphocytic)
Define the following terms with examples:<br></br><br></br>1) Neoplasia<br></br>2) Hyperplasia<br></br>3) Metaplasia<br></br>4) Dysplasia
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Define cachexia:
General systemic wasting<br></br><br></br>Exact mechanism unknown - ?competition for metabolic resources?
Oncogenes vs tumour suppressor genes:
<b>Oncogene</b><br></br>- Overactivity mutations<br></br>- Dominant in the cell<br></br>- Only one copy needs to be mutated<br></br><br></br><b>Tumour suppressor genes</b><br></br>- Loss of function mutations<br></br>- Recessive in the cell<br></br>- Both copies need to be mutated
What is the structure of p53?
Tetramer <br></br><br></br>This creates a unique form of mutation. It is a tumour supressor gene but only needs one copy of the gene to be mutated to have an effect. Losing both copies has a stronger effect
What are the two types of genetic instability in colon cancer?
<b>1) Chromosomal instability (CIN)</b><br></br>- Rearranged chromosomes<br></br>- Due to loss of protective mechanisms against chromosome aberrations<br></br><br></br><b>2) Sequence instability</b><br></br>- Normal chromosomes<br></br>- <b>microsatellite instability</b><br></br>- Mainly due to DNA mismatch repair inactivation
What are MLH1 + MSH2 needed for?
Mismatch repair<br></br><br></br>Defects seen in colon cancer
What is BRCA2 needed for?
Single + double strand repair<br></br><br></br>Defects seen in breast cancer
What are the hallmarks of cancer?
<b>Proliferation and survival changes</b><br></br>1) Independence of growth signals<br></br>2) Resistance to growth inhibitory signals<br></br>3) Resistance to apoptosis<br></br>4) Immortality<br></br>5) Differentiation block<br></br><br></br><b>Genetic instability</b><br></br>6) Metabolic changes<br></br>7) Angiogenesis<br></br>8) Metastasis
p53
Cytochrome C
Caspases
Used for CML
