Cancer Flashcards
Define cancer
A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Forms solid tumours and leukaemia in almost any body site
Define adenoma
non-cancerous tumour, starts in epithelial cells
Define carcinogen
any substance that causes cancer
Define malignant
a growth that invades and destroys nearby tissues and spreads to other parts of the body
Metastasize
Spreading of the cancer from the place where it started to the lymph nodes and/or other parts of the body
Define neoplasm
abnormal cell growth that from a tumor
Define tumour
a group of cells that grows uncontrolled
Give 2 characteristics of cancer cells
uncontrolled growth, loss of contact inhibited cell division, immortal
Which two cancers are common in some families?
Breast & colon
Give 2 biological causes of cancer
Hep B, Human papilloma virus, H. Plyori
Give 2 chemical causes of cancer
Cigarette smoke, heterocyclic amines in cooked meats
Give 2 physical carcinogens
UV rays, X rays
What is a thymine dimer and how is it caused?
Two thymine molecules form a covalent bond between them
Caused by energy from UV light
Where is bento[a]pyrene (polycyclic hydrocarbon) found? What does it form?
Cigarette smoke
It binds to deoxyguanosine to form a DNA adduct
Define a DNA adduct, and how is it formed?
A segment of DNA bound to a cancer-causing chemical. This could be the start of a cancerous cell or carcinogenesis (cancer formation).
One possible cause is benzo[a]pyrene from cigarette smoke
What is aflatoxin and what is the danger of it?
A toxic metabolite (necessary for metabolism) produced by a fungus that grows in crops. It can form a DNA adduct in the liver, causing cancer
How do we know if something causes cancer?
Animal tests
In vitro tests show the potential of a chemical to induce cancer
What is the difference between case control and cohort studies
Case control compares groups with the disease to look for factors in common. Cohort studies follow a population over a period of time to see who contracts the disease from a certain factor.
Which are the bigger contribution to cancer incidence, genetic factors or environmental factors?
Environmental factors
What are DNA repair gene polymorphisms?
They alter the function and/or efficiency of DNA repair
