Cancer Flashcards
Benign vs malignant tumors:
Benign
- Grow slowly
- Not invasive
- Capsulated
Malignant
- Grow rapidly
- Not encapsulated
- Invasive (spreads)
Benign tumors are named according to:
- Tissue they originate in
- “oma” suffix
“Lipoma, Osteoma…”
Hallmark signs of a cancer cell include:
- Anaplasia
- Pleomorphic
Anaplasia: Loss of cell differentiation
Pleomorphic: Variable size and shape
Malignant cancers are named based off:
What type of cells commonly result in cancer?
Type of cell they originate
Occurs in cells that replicate fast (melanoma)
Carcinoma in situ (CIS)
- What is it?
Pre-invasive tumor; not malignant but will be
(can spread but hasn’t yet)
What are the risks of cancer?
- Aging
- Genetic mutation
- Clonal proliferation (new cell with increased growth rate)
Cancer cells created from normal cell in lab:
What are some characteristics?
Transformed cells
- Immortal
- Lack contact inhibition
What are these terms:
- Proto-oncogenes
- Oncogenes
Proto-oncogenes: regulate normal cell growth
Oncogenes: Mutated proto-oncogenes
What are tumor-suppressor genes?
Make proteins that stop growth of cancer/oncogenes
If mutation occurs in somatic cells, will that spread to offspring?
No:
Mutations to gametes can be passed
How can chronic inflammation promote cancer?
Inflammatory cells release cytokines and free radicals;
Damage and mutate cells
What microbes can cause cancer?
- Bacteria (tissue damage)
- Viruses (HPV, Herpes, Hep)
What is Metastasis?
Cancer spreads from primary site to distant site.
By way of blood vessels/lymphatic system
What is the only way you can diagnose a tumor?
Through a biopsy
(other symptoms are variable)
What is:
Stage 1 cancer
Stage 2 cancer
Stage 1: No metastasis
Stage 2: Local invasion
What is:
Stage 3 cancer
Stage 4 cancer
Stage 3: Spread to lymph nodes
Stage 4: distant metastasis
What is the TNM system of staging?
T= tumor spread
N= Node involvment
M= Distant metastasis
What are tumor markers?
Substances made by benign or malignant tumor:
- Lab indication of tumor
- Diagnose specific types
When is pain seen in cancer?
Little/no pain in early stages
Advanced cancer: caused by direct pressure, stretching of organs
When is fatigue seen in cancer?
What are the causes?
Subjective of each patient: May or may not be seen
- Lack of appetite and sleep
- Treatments can cause
What is cachexia?
What causes it?
Severe form of malnutrition seen often in cancer patients at death
- Lack of energy, altered metabolism, altered taste
What is anemia?
What are the causes?
Decrease hemoglobin in blood
Chronic bleeding, malnutrition, chemotherapy.
What is leukopenia/thrombocytopenia?
What causes it in cancer patients?
Leukopenia= Low WBCs
Thrombocytopenia= Low platelets
- Chemotherapy (toxic to bone marrow) and subsequent infections
What gastrointestinal manifestations can occur in cancer patients?
Why?
- Malabsorption
- Ulcers
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
All of these caused by chemotherapy (toxic)
What are skin/hair manifestations of cancer patients?
Alopecia= hair loss
Skin breakdown/dryness
(chemotherapy causes)
What is chemotherapy?
Cytotoxic drugs that target cellular machinery/metabolic pathways.
Affects normal/malignant cell growth and replication
What are the goals of chemotherapy?
Eliminate enough tumor cells so body can finish rest.
What are sentinel nodes?
First lymph node to have cancer?
What are:
Debulking surgery
Palliative surgery
Debulking surgery: Remove tumor
Palliative surgery: Alleviate symptoms
What is ionizing radiation/how is it used?
Eradicate cancer without toxicitiy.
Avoid damage to normal structures (localized)
What causes 2/3 of all cancers?
Environmental/lifestyle factors
What are epigenetics?
Change in phenotype without DNA mutation.
-Usually activate genes/silence genes?
What are the main risk factors of cancer?
- Smoking (all smoking)
- Diet (Red meat and processed foods)
- Obesity
- Alcohol (>3)
- Radiation
Alcohol increases the risk for these types of cancer:
Head and esophageal cancers
What types of skin cancer does Ultraviolet radiation cause?
- Melanoma: Melanocytes
- Basal cell: lowest part of epidermis
- Squamous cell: Surface of skin
- Can occur on all parts that are sun exposed
How does UV radiation cause cancer?
Induces release of Free radicals; promotes skin inflammation
What’s the main cause of cervical cancer?
HPV
Prevention: there is a vaccine
How does physical activity reduce cancer risks?
Decreases:
- insulin
- Obesity
- Increases peristalsis (amount of time exposed to mutagens)
What types of air pollutions can cause cancer?
Particulate matter (Droplets of metal, dust, acids):
- Primary particle: Directly from source (smoke stack)
- Seondary particle (Power, industry)
What indoor/occupational hazards can increase cancer risks?
- Dyes
- Rubber
- Paint
- Metals
