Cancer Genetics Flashcards
sarcoma
cancers that form in the bones and soft tissues (can include muscles, bone, tendons, ligaments, lymph and blood vessels)
leukemia
cancer that begins in the blood forming tissue of the bone marrow
lymphoma
cancer that begins in the lymphocytes (usually B or T cells)
multiple myeloma
cancer that begins in plasma cells, which are immune cells; when abnormal versions of these cells build up in the marrow tumors can form throughout the body
melanoma
cancer that begins in cells that make pigment
-can occur in skin or eye
gliomas
benign tumors derived from cells of brain; pressure and size can cause problems
glioblastomas
malignant cell growth of the glioma
meningioma
- fairly common
- cancer of the meninges
astrocytoma
malignant cells derived from astrocytes
carcinoma
cancers derived from epithelial cells
germ cell tumors
tumors that arise from reproductive cells
neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)
formation of these can lead to complications related to hormone release
- most common in intestine, lung, panc, adrenal gland
- ex: pheos and paragangliomas (pheos not on adrenal gland), islet cell cancers
- can be benign or malignant
- can increase BP, sweating, anxiety
Carcinoids
Slow growing tumors often in GI; secrete substances like prostaglandins or serotonin and cause namesake syndrome
Tumor-specifics suggestive of hereditary cancer
Tumors in lateral organs or two different tumor types/primaries in the same organ
HER2+
somatic amplification is associated with poorer prognosis, but also a druggable target
atypia and breast cancer risk
- 20-25% risk in absence of family history of breast ca
- up to 40% cumulative risk with family history
DCIS
-non-invasive neoplasm of ductal origin
+currently treated, but controversial
+30% risk of becoming invasive cancer
-comedo type with higher risk of becoming invasive
LCIS
-not a pre-malignant breast cancer risk, but a marker of risk
-25-30% chance to become invasive
+often times b/l, multifocal and can invade ducts, so different place than cells are found becomes cancerous
+tx can include chemo or prophylactic mastectomy
BrCa risk factors
- aging
- early menstruation (<12y)
- late menopause (>52y)
- breast density
- nulliparity or first child later than 30y
- estrogen or progesterone use after menopause
- more than 2-3 alcoholic beverages per week
protective BrCa factors
- 4 or more hours of exercise per week
- maintaining ideal body weight to reduce body fat stores (especially after menopause)
- breastfeeding
- having children prior to 30y
ovarian cancer cells
arise from mullerian epithelium
-fallopian tube cancer and primary peritoneal cancer treated the same
sertoli-leydig cell cancer
- subset of sex-cord tumors
- occur in DICER1 and Peutz-Jehger
high grade serous tumors
associated with germline and somatic BRCA1/2 and TP53 mutations
ovarian cancer of low malignant potential
- “borderline”
- 15% of ovarian tumors
- less associated with BRCA1/2