7.1 Defining Cancer

Question 1

Behind heart disease what accounts for the most common cause of death in the Western world?

Answer 1

cancer

Question 2

What is the general definition of cancer?

Answer 2

genetic disease that causes mutations in somatic cells

Question 3

What are two different circumstances of what mutations result in in cancer?

Answer 3

1. expression of abnormal genes
2. abnormal expression of genes

Question 4

Are there some cancers that are inherited?

Answer 4

there are a few cancer causing gene mutations that are inherited

Question 5

What has contributed a vast wealth of information regarding specific cancers?

Answer 5

Human Genome Project

Question 6

About how many cancers demonstrate heretability in genes that increase susceptibility to certain cancers?

Answer 6

5-10%

Question 7

What are two heritable genes that increase the risk of cancer?

Answer 7

BRCA I and BRCAII

Question 8

What do the BRCA genes increase the risk of?

Answer 8

ovarian and breast cancer

Question 9

Typically, how do mutations lead to cancer?

Answer 9

not just one mutation but an accumulation of mutations that span across genes that control DNA repair, cell division, cell death, and other functions

Question 10

What age usually has more aggressive cancers?

Answer 10

younger individuals are more aggressive than older

Question 11

What two properties do all cancers share?

Answer 11

1. uncontrolled, abnormal cell growth and division
2. defects in the restraints that keep them localized to a certain part of the body

Question 12

What is proliferation?

Answer 12

uncontrolled, abnormal cell growth

Question 13

What is metastasis?

Answer 13

defects in the restraints that keep cancerous cells localized to a certain part of the body

Question 14

What can happen if a cell loses control over its proliferation?

Answer 14

tumor/mass

Question 15

What is a benign tumor?

Answer 15

tumor that is confined to a region without moving to other areas of the body

Question 16

How can benign tumors typically be removed?

Answer 16

surgery

Question 17

What are secondary tumors?

Answer 17

when tumor cells break off into the bloodstream or lymph system and form other masses

Question 18

What is a malignant tumor?

Answer 18

tumor that has cells break off and enter the bloodstream or lymph system to grow secondary tumors

Question 19

Which types of tumors are difficult to treat and can be life threatening?

Answer 19

malignant tumors

Question 20

Can benign tumors become malignant?

Answer 20

yes