Cancer Flashcards
Cancer
cells that grow in an uncoordinated manner and proliferate independently at a greater rate than normal cells
What do cancer cells compete with normal cells for
space, blood, oxygen, and nutrition
Well-differentiated
cells are doing well, look like a normal cell
Poorly-differentiated
cells are not doing well, does not look like a normal cell
Cell cycle steps
G1 –> G0 or s phase –> G2 –> mitosis
G1
the cell prepares for DNA replication and proto-oncogenes are activated to control cell replication
G0
cells rest
S phase
synthesis of cell structures
G2
DNA synthesis, where errors are detected and repaired
What is missing from the cell cycle in cancer cells
there are no checkpoints/rest points to detect, repair, or destroy errors
In what kind of tumor are the cells well-differentiated
benign
In what kind of tumor are the cells poorly-differentiated
malignant
What kind of tumors are localized
benign
What kind of tumor is invasive and disruptive to surrounding cells
malignant
What kind of tumor has edges that are demarcated
benign
What kind of tumor has cells that easily break free and spread to other body areas (metastasis)
malignant
Where do tumors like to grow
near lymph nodes and bloodstream to be able to travel throughout the body
Carcinoma
malignant epithelial cells
Adenocarcinoma
cancer of the glandular or ductal tissue
Sarcoma
cancer of the connective tissue and cartilage
Osteosarcoma
cancer of the bone
Leukemia
cancer of the leukocytes
Lymphoma
cancerous changes of the lymph nodes and lymphoid tissue
What is the normal function of tumor suppressor genes
restrain cell growth
What gene controls cellular apoptosis
TP53
What defect do half of cancers have
TP53
What is the normal function of proto-oncogenes
regulate and stimulate the cell cycle
Paraneoplastic syndromes
pathological disorder caused by the presence of cancer in the body
What are symptoms caused by in paraneoplastic syndrome
substances secreted by the tumor or as a result of antibodies cross-reacting with other tissues
Cancer cachexia
systemic inflammation, negative protein and energy balance, involuntary loss of lean body mass
What is the hallmark sign of cancer cachexia
inflammation
Tx
tumor cannot be assessed
T0
no evidence of primary tumor
Tis
carcinoma in situ (cells present, not growing)
T1-4
progressive increase in size/involvement
Nx
regional lymph cannot be assessed
N0
no evidence of regional node metastasis
N1-3
increasing involvement of regional lymph
Mx
not assessed
M0
no distant metastasis
M1
distant metastasis present
Gx
grade cannot be assessed
G1
well-differentiated
G2
moderately differentiated
G3
poorly differentiated
G4
undifferentiated
What is important to palpate in a physical exam
the liver
Surgery
useful for well-contained, solid tumors and debulking (take out some healthy tissue to make sure)
Radiation
destroy cancer cells (S, M, cell stages)
Chemotherapy
destroy cancer cells (S, M, G, cell stages)
Immunotherapy
used to identify and locate cancer cells and deliver medication to cancer sites (monoclonal antibody)
Hormone therapy
used to interrupt hormone positive cancer cells
