Cancer Flashcards
Tumor
A mass of cells, generally derived from a single cell, that arise due to the loss of normally regulation of cell growth
Neoplasm
Any new or abnormal growth, either benign or malignant, a tumor
Benign tumor
A tumor that does not invade health surrounding tissue
Malignant tumor
A tumor that continues to grow and invades surrounding tissue
Cancer
Refers specifically to a malignant tumor
Invades into the surrounding tissues
Metastasis
Spread of cancer cells or small clusters of cancer cells into the blood or lymphatics where they are carried to distant sites to become secondary tumors
Carcinomas
Derived from endoderm
Example: gut epithelium
Derived from ectoderm
Example: skin or neuroepithelium
Sacromas
Derived from mesoderm
Example: muscle, bone cartilage or connective tissue
Leukemias
Originated in the bone marrow
Seen in the bone marrow and blood
Lymphomas
Originates from the lymphatic system
Seen in the lymph nodes and spleens
Karyotype
A picture of a person’s (or cell’s) chromosomes at metaphase
Aneuploidy
an abnormal number of chromosomes
Oncogenes
Mutated versions of normal genes involved in growth and proliferation
1. Mutations in a signal transduction pathway that regulates cell growth
2.A mutation that impairs the ability of the cell to repair DNA damage
3.Mutations in the apoptosis mechanism
4.Mutations that allow the cell to evade the immune system
Neo-antigens
proteins altered by mutations
Tumor growth requires angiogenesis. What induces angiogensis?
The process of new blood vessels forming from existing blood vessels
Tumors can grow to a mass of about 2mm
Cells inside the sphere die from lack of nutrients
Many tumors produce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)–> which induces angiogensis, new blood vessels grow out from the existing vessels and invade into the tumor
