Cancer Biology Flashcards
define neoplasm
new growth, proliferation of cells
define neoplasia
formation of a neoplasm
define metaplasia
an adaptive substitution of one type of adult tissue to another type of adult tissue
define metastasis
spreading of neoplasm to distant sites
define adenoma
a benign epithelial neoplasm which produces a gland-like pattern or derives from glands
define papilloma
benign tumor of surface epithelium
define polyp
benign growth from mucosal surface of intestine or nose
what are the T,N,M staging associated with the stage of cancer?
T= size and extent of invasion
N= presence and number of lymph nodes involved
M= presence of distant metastasis
define stage 0 cancer
carcinoma that has not invaded into other tissue
define stage 1 and 2 cancer
variable, depends on tumor type and location
define stage 3/4 cancer
cancer has spread throughout the body
the epidermis of the skin consists of what cell type?
keratinocytes
the dermis of the skin consists of what cell type?
fibroblast
the hypodermis of the skin consists of what cell type?
adipocytes
which type of cancer cell is responsible for the bulk of tumor cell proliferation and is susceptible to cancer therapy?
TA cells
what are the cancer stem cell markers in the breast?
CD44, CD24
what is the cancer stem cell marker in melanoma?
CD20
what are the cancer stem cell markers in the prostate?
CD44, a2b1, CD133
what are the cancer stem cell markers in pancreatic cells?
CD44, EpCam, CD24
what are the different methods of how our body repairs DNA?
base-excision repair
nucleotide-excision repair
transcription-coupled repair
mismatch repair
double-strand-break repair
what is required to allow accumulation of sufficient mutations to generate cancer?
chromosomal instability
what is xeroderma pigmentosum?
an autosomal recessive disorder causing severe light sensitivity, severe pigmentation irregularities, and early onset of skin cancer
why are patients with xeroderma pigmentosum so vulnerable to skin cancer?
they cannot repair damage caused by UV rays
which factors are associated with familial melanoma?
p16/INK4a
CDKN2A
CDK4
12q14
which chromosomes are associated with burkitt’s lymphoma?
8q24, 14q, 22q, and 2p
how do epigenetic alterations affect gene epxression?
alters without changing DNA sequences, thereby turning gene expression on or off
also causes histone methylation, de-acetylation and phosphorylation