Cancer Flashcards
In basic terms, what is cancer?
Uncontrolled cell growth and division. You make your own parasite. Cancer cells can destroy the function of proteins; this damage cannot be undone.
Cell division regulation (regular vs. cancer)
Regular: Max of 50 in a single cell. Very regulated. Divide only on command.
Cancer: Over 50, they become immortal as they don’t self-destruct after dividing too many times. They divide continuously.
How many mutations in a single cell does it take to develop cancer?
8-10
Important proteins involved with cancer.
RAS is an on/off switch. It is non-functional in 30% of tumours.
P53 is a braking protein. It is non-functional in 50% of tumours. It is involved in apoptosis - programmed cell death - so when it stops working, it allows cancer cells to become immortal and to keep continuously dividing.
Genetic basis or susceptibility of cancer.
We all have proto-oncongenes, gene mutations turn them into oncogenes. People who have previous mutations of their proto-oncogenes or who have easier to damage proto-oncogenes are more susceptible.
Tabacco and cancer.
Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens like polonium. The combustion products also include benzopyrenes
Diet and cancer.
Cooking food can generate materials that cause mutations (burnt pieces). Vegetables, fruits, and fibres can help protect you. Obesity will increase risk of everything, including cancer (due to portion size and what is eaten).
Viruses and cancer.
Viruses are responsible for 15% of cancer death because they contain oncogenes.
Prevention of cervical cancer.
Guardasil, the HPV vaccine, will prevent HPV and cervical cancer.
Mustine, the first cancer drug.
Developed from mustard gas that destroys tissue and reduces White Blood Cells. The difference between Mustine and Mustard gas, though, is that DNA damage from Mustine can be repaired and it causes tumour cell death by targeting fast-growing cells.
Cisplatin, the cancer drug.
Works by moving in and out of cells and getting trapped in cancer cells and destroying those cells from the inside, it is a suicide drug.
Taxol, the cancer drug.
Taxol is 30% effective for breast cancer. It is manufactured from yew trees and cannot be synthesized. Now, though, it is manufactured using cell culture and keeping the trees grown in a suspended growth medium.
Newer cancer drugs.
Supportive drugs that protect healthy cells.
Hormone Therapies.
Targeted therapies - if the mutation is known, attack it directly.
Biologics - Antibodies
