Cancer Flashcards
What is meant by carcinogenisis?
The process where normal cells turn into cancer cells
What is cancer characterised by?
Unregulated cell growth
How does cancer begin (simple)?
Where one cell begins to grow and multiply in an uncontrolled manner
If tumours are not treated, they may: (4 things)
- Invade nearby healthy tissues, causing the cancer to spread further
- block ducts and blood vessels
- cause pressure on other body structures
- spread to other parts of the body through the lymph or blood stream
- alter hormone production
Define neoplasm:
a new growth of cells or an abnormal mass of tissue otherwise known as a tumour
Define benign:
A benign tumour is one that does not invade neighbouring tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Not usually harmful but can cause compression on other body organs or secrete large amounts of hormones
Define malignant:
a malignant neoplasm is one that is capable of invading nearby tissue and spreading elsewhere in the body
Define carcinoma:
A malignant tumour arising in the epithelial tissues
Define adenocarcinoma:
a malignant tumour which arises from glandular epithelial cells
Define sarcoma:
A malignant tumour found in supporting tissues such as bone, fat or muscle
Define leukaemia or lymphoma:
Haematological malignancies arising from blood or the bone marrow
Which 4 cancers make up almost half of all cancer cases?
Breast, lung, bowel and prostate cancer
Why have rates of prostate cancer reduced recently?
Due to earlier detection and increased awareness or the disease
Why have rates of bowel cancer increased recently?
Due to an increasingly obese population and increased levels of alcohol consumption
Why have levels of breast cancer reduced recently?
Due to regular screening and fewer women having children at an older age.
Name the 4 categories of risk factors for cancer:
- Age, lifestyle and diet
- Occupational and environmental factors
- Family History of cancer
- Lowered immunity
Discuss the affect the age, smoking, weight, alcohol consumption, physical activity and UV exposure have on the likelihood of developing cancer:
Age: increased age leads to an increased likelihood Smoking: damages the cells in the respiratory tract, mouth, bladder and bowel leading to increased risk
Weight: low weight and a healthy diet are likely to reduce the likelihood of developing cancers of the pancreas, bowel, breast and uterus
Alcohol: increased alcohol consumption leads to increased risk of developing mouth, throat and oesophagus cancers
Physical activity: lack of physical activity leads to increased likelihood of developing breast, bowel, uterus and lung cancers
UV exposure: overexposure can lead to skin damage increasing the likelihood of developing a skin carcinoma.
Which naturally occurring gas has been linked to increased risk of developing cancer?
Radon gas
Name three viruses/bacterial infections which increase the chances of developing cancers due to cell changes:
HIV, HPV and Hepatitis
Name the 6 hallmarks associated with cancer development
- Cells divide spontaneously despite the absence of growth stimulating signals
- Avoid growth suppressors: cancer cells are able to overcome the process which normally prevents cell growth
- Avoid apoptisis: cancer cells are able to overcome the process which normally prevents cell death (apoptosis)
- Replicative immortality: normal cells have a set number of cell divisions after which they cease to divide, however cancer cells surpass this normal count
- Angiogenisis: cancer cells establish their own blood supply enabling them access to nutrients and oxygen which allows them to grow successfully
- Metastasis: cancer cells move in the blood or the lymphatic system causing them to metastasise to other areas of the body and continue to grow elsewhere
What are the 3 staple phases of the cell cycle?
- quiescent stage: resting phase
- Interphase: cells prepare for division, increase their protein supply and number of organelles + DNA replication takes place
- Cell division: cells divide resulting in an identical set of 46 chromosomes. Errors result in death or mutation
What are the 4 stages in mitosis?
Prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase
What is the role of the proto-oncogene?
Code for proteins which enable cell growth stimulating factors. These cells can mutate causing excessive growth leading to cancerous growths. Mutated proto-oncogenes are called oncogenes.
What are the 4 categories of oncogene?
Growth factors, receptors, cytoplasmic signalling molecules and nuclear transcription factors.
What is the role of the tumour suppressor gene?
They inhibit cell division and growth or initiate apoptisis in cells. If they mutate they can prevent cell apoposis leading to unmanaged growth and cancerous growths.
If a cancer cells spreads elsewhere in the body, this is known as:
Metastasis
How are cancer cells spread elsewhere in the body?
Through the blood stream or lymphatic system
How do medical professionals establish the type of cancer present? (4 methods)
- detailed history of symptoms present
- tissue biopsy
- clinical examination
- lab tests to establish cell type present
What is meant by ‘grading’ a neoplasm?
Determining how abnormal the cells are compared to how they should be.
Define ‘well differentiated’ and ‘poorly differentiated’ in relation to neoplasm grading:
Well differentiated cancer cells are relatively similar to normal tissue cells and are likely to grow slowly and unlikely to spread.
Poorly differentiated cancer cells are very abnormal in comparison to normal cells. They are likely to spread and multiply
What is meant by ‘staging’ a neoplasm?
Describes the location and the pattern of cell growth.
Describe grade 1, 2 and 3 cancer cells:
Grade 1: cancer cells look relatively normal and growth is slow
Grade 2: cells look unlike normal cells and continue to grow and divide
Grade 3: cancer cells look almost unrecognisable and continually divide at a fast rate
What are tumour markers?
Antigens associated with particular tumour cells which may help to determine the location of the cancer tumour
What is meant by the T, N and M categorisation system in relation to cancer staging?
T relates to the size of the neoplasm and whether it has spread into nearby tissues
N relates to whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
M relates to whether the cancer has metastasised.
Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by:
Unregulated cell growth
