Cancer Flashcards
Define cancer
An abnormal growth of cells which tend to multiply in an uncontrolled way and in some cases metastasise (spread)
Common term for malignant tumours
Define tumour or neoplasm
An abnormal mass of tissue which grows in an uncontrolled and uncoordinated manner, it may be benign, malignant or pre-cancerous
What are neoplastic cells?
Cells that have lost control of normal processes such as growth and once a neoplasm has started it is not reversible
What is a mutation?
An abnormal change in a gene
What is oncology?
The study of tumours or neoplasia
What are benign tumours?
Tumours that grow locally and do not invade nearby tissue
What are malignant tumours?
Tumours that invade nearby tissues and metastasise
What is metastasis?
The spread of cancer cells from the primary tumour to surrounding tissues and to distant organs
What is a carcinogen?
An agent (chemical, radiation or microbial) that induces changes to a cell population that can cause cancer
Give examples of microbial carcinogens
Helicobacter pylori - gastric adenocarcinoma (9%)
Human herpes virus 8 (HHV8)
Kaposi’s sarcoma (skin and mouth)
What is transformation?
The conversion of one cell phenotype to another
What is a carcinoma?
Cancer arising from the epithelium of the skin or internal organs (epithelial neoplasia)
What is carcinogenesis?
The multi-step process of transformation of a normal cell to a cancer cell
What are the hallmarks of cancer and how many are there?
6
- Self sufficiency in growth signals
- Insensitivity to anti growth signals
- Evading apoptosis
- Limitless reproductive material
- Sustained angiogenesis
- Tissue invasion and metastasis
What is an oncogene?
A gene that encodes protein capable of inducing cancer
