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HSCI 2211 - Cancer & Metabolic Diseases > Cancer L9 - SP1 > Flashcards

Cancer L9 - SP1 Flashcards

1
Q

Cancer

A

Abnormal uncontrolled growth of previously normal cells.

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2
Q

What is the result of changes to a cells DNA?

A

Loss of functionality of the cell. Rapid cell division. Accumulations of abnormal cells. Possible growth of cells beyond the tissue border. Invasion into other tissues. Spread to the rest of the body.

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3
Q

Tumour

A

Accumulations of abnormal cells.

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4
Q

Metastasis

A

Spread to the rest of the body.

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5
Q

Dysplasia

A

Abnormal cells. An indicator that cells are beginning to grow in an abnormal way.

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6
Q

Steps of alterations in tissues during cancer.

A

Healthy cells -> Dysplasia -> carcinoma in situ -> Localized invasive cancer -> Regional lymph involvement -> Distant metastases.

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7
Q

Cancer accounts for what percent of all deaths?

A

13%

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8
Q

What are the major types of cancer?

A

Lung, stomach, colorectal, liver, and breast.

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9
Q

Is the total number of cancer cases globally increasing or decreasing?

A

Increasing.

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10
Q

Why is it projected that the number of global cancer cases will increase?

A

The global population is increasing and getting older.

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11
Q

What percent of Canadians have some form of cancer?

A

30%

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12
Q

What province in Canada has the lowest incidence of cancer?

A

BC

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13
Q

What province in Canada has the highest incidence of cancer?

A

Quebec

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14
Q

Is cancer more common in men or women?

A

Men

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15
Q

What are the three main categories of carcinogens?

A

Physical, chemical and biological.

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16
Q

What are examples of physical carcinogens?

A

Ultraviolet light and ionizing radiation

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17
Q

What are examples of chemical carcinogens?

A

Asbestos, tobacco smoke, arsenic.

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18
Q

What are examples of biological carcinogens?

A

Viruses, bacteria, parasites

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19
Q

Other than carcinogens, what is a fundamental factor for the development of cancer?

A

Aging.

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20
Q

Why is aging a fundamental factor for the development of cancer?

A

Reduced cellular repair mechanisms = increased risk for specific cancers. Incidence of neoplasias increases with age.

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21
Q

Cancer is possible the youngest or oldest disease?

A

Oldest

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22
Q

How do we know that cancer is a very old disease?

A

Archaeologists have made many discoveries of old bones with cancer.

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23
Q

Most importantly, cancer is a disease of ___

A

Age

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24
Q

Why do we see so much cancer today?

A

We live longer. Our understanding and knowledge of cancer has increased, and imaging techniques have enabled earlier diagnosis.

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25
Four principal types of cancer based on function and structure.
Epithelial tissue. Connective tissue. Muscle tissue. Nervous tissue.
26
Microscopic appearance of cancer cells.
Large number of irregularly shaped dividing cells. Large, variably shaped nuclei. Small cytoplasmic volume relative to nuclei. Variation in cell size and shape. Loss of normal specialized cell features. Disorganized arrangement of cells. Poorly defined tumour boundary.
27
Neoplasm
"New growth." Refers to abnormal tissue growth. Typically the growth is clonal. Growth is uncoordinated and autonomous which arises due to genetic changes.
28
Tumour
a solid mass of clonal cells
29
The opposite of "malignant" is...
benign
30
Benign
Localized and amenable to surgery/cure. Designated by "-oma." Doesn't typically grow forever. Lacks the capacity to metastasize.
31
Can a benign tumour ever kill you?
Yes
32
How could a benign tumour kill you?
If it's in the middle of your brain or in a heart value, it could prevent the normal functioning of those organs.
33
Is a malignant tumour always a bad thing?
No
34
Why isn't a malignant tumour always bad?
Some grow very slowly. They can be removed and won't grow back fast enough to pose a threat.
35
What is an example of a possible treatment for a slow growing malignant tumour?
Surgery or "watchful waiting".
36
Suffix for malignant tumours derived from epithelial tissue
-carcinoma
37
Suffix for tumours of connective or muscle tissue
-sarcoma
38
Suffix for a tumour that grows in both epithelial tissue and muscle tissue.
-carcinocarcomas
39
Suffix for a tumour that grows in the blood
-emia
40
Prefix esteo-
bone
41
Prefix myelo-
bone marrow
42
Prefix melano-
pigment cell
43
Prefix lympho-
lymphocyte
44
If a lung cancer metastasizes to the brain, does it's name change?
No, it's still lung cancer.
45
Carcinoma in situ
Severe dysplasia
46
What blocks a carcinoma in situ from invading other areas of the body?
The basement membrane.
47
Invasive carcinoma
Can move into blood/lymphatic vessels, or into their health tissue surrounds.
48
Can all malignant cells metastasize?
Yes
49
Two types of malignant cells that can invade but not metastasize?
Glioma and basal cell carcinoma.
50
Three ways metastasis can spread
Hematogenous spread (blood). Lymphatic spread (lymph). Direct seeding of body cavities/surfaces.
51
What types of vessels does metastasis usually happen through and why?
Veins/capillaries and lymph vessels. They have thin walls.
52
What type of vessel makes it more difficult for metastasis to happen and why?
Arteries because they are harder to break through.
53
A common site for metastasis.
The liver.
54
Why is the liver a common site for metastasis?
Many veins pass through the liver, and liver sinusoids have a small diameter which traps tumour emboli.
55
What are the three steps involved in metastasis via lymph?
Tumour cells get trapped in the node and start growing. Alternate routes of flow carry tumour cells to new sites. Lymph nodes also intersect with blood vessels.
56
Do all tumour cells that migrate via blood or lymph survive to set up new tumours?
No.
57
Alternate route from metastasis other than blood/lymph.
Tumour can break through into major body cavities.
58
Compare benign vs malignant cell structure: ___ vs ___
Almost normal vs pleomorphic
59
Compare benign vs malignant tissue structure: ___ vs ___
Orderly vs Irregular
60
Compare benign vs malignant growth rate: ___ vs ___
Faster than normal vs rapid
61
Compare benign vs malignant invasiveness: ___ vs ___
Not usually invasive vs usually invasive.
62
Compare benign vs malignant metastasis: ___ vs ___
Never vs often
63
Compare benign vs malignant capsule: ___ vs ___
Usually vs Rare
64
Compare benign vs malignant anaplasia: ___ vs ___
Minimal vs Usually
65
Compare benign vs malignant prognosis: ___ vs ___
Good vs not good
66
Four fundamental principles of cancer development (titles of each principle)
1. Initiation. 2. Promotion. 3. Progression. 4. Cancer.
67
First fundamental principle of cancer development (in detail).
"Initiation." The carcinogen produces a mutation in a cell.
68
Second fundamental principle of cancer development (in detail).
"Promotion." Other factors (endogenous or exogenous) encourages proliferation of that cell.
69
Third fundamental principle of cancer development (in detail).
"Progression." Further mutations free the cell line from dependence on the promoting factor, and the transformed cells begin to grow autonomously.
70
Four fundamental principle of cancer development (in detail).
"Cancer." Invasion and metastasis.
71
By the time a tumour is detected, how many cells does it probably contain?
At least a billion.
72
What viruses are strongly associated with cancers?
Human T cell leukemia virus type-1. Human papillomavirus (HPV), Hepatitis B and C. Epstein-Barr virus. Human herpesvirus 8.
73
What type viruses are responsible for about 80% of virally-induced cancers?
Hepatitis B and HPV.
74
Tumour markers
Substances produced by tumour cells or by other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain benign conditions.
75
Where can tumour markers be found?
Blood, urine, and inside tumour tissue.
76
Different tumour markers are found in different ___.
Types of cancer.
77
Tumour markers indicate...
the presence of cancer.
78
Risk markers indicate...
that cancer is more likely to occur.
79
Prostate tumours secrete...
prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate specific acide phosphatase (PSAP)
80
How are tumour markers used?
As a potential indicator of disease. As a diagnostic tool. As a management tool. To determine response to treatment.
81
Six hallmarks of cancer
Growth with a "go" signal. Failure to respond to "stop" signals. Unlimited number of cell divisions. Avoidance of cell death. Angiogenesis. Metastasis.
82
How do cancers grow without "go" signals from the body?
They produce their own growth factors. They over-express or change growth receptors. They influence surrounding cells to produce growth signals.
83
Why do cancers fail to respond to the body's "stop" signals?
They avoid the signals for anchorage dependent or density dependant growth.
84
Why do cancer cells have an unlimited number of cell divisions?
Activation of an enzyme, telomerase, that maintains the integrity of the chromosomes during cell division.
85
Angiogensis
When cancer grows its own blood supply.
86
What percent of cancer deaths are due to metastasis?
90%

HSCI 2211 - Cancer & Metabolic Diseases (18 decks)

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