Cancer Overview March 28, 2025 (1) Flashcards
Define cancer
Cancer is characterized by the presence of abnormally proliferating cells that have the capacity to infiltrate normal tissues and destroy them.
What are the leading causes of death in 112 countries as of 2020?
Cancer is the first or second leading cause of death.
List the most commonly diagnosed cancers according to the GLOBOCAN 2022 Report
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Stomach cancer
What is the most common cancer-related death according to the GLOBOCAN 2022 Report?
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Liver cancer
- Breast cancer
- Stomach cancer
What are tumorigenic mutations?
Tumorigenic mutations disrupt the cell cycle integrity of normal cells and generate cancer cells.
What types of mutations can lead to cancer?
- Mutations in checkpoint genes/tumor suppressor genes
- Errors in DNA replication
- Errors in mitosis
- Exposure to carcinogens
- Chronic infections
- Metabolic stress
List examples of cancer-driving mutations.
- Tumor suppressor/checkpoint genes: p53, PTEN, Rb1
- Proto-oncogenes: c-Myc, Ras
- DNA repair genes: BRCA1, ATM
What are the hallmarks of cancer?
Cancer cells acquire several additional mutations over time that provide them with a survival advantage.
What is the tumor microenvironment composed of?
Tumors are comprised of both cancer cells and stromal cells, including fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial cells, and immune cells.
What role do peripheral nerves play in tumor growth?
Peripheral nerves infiltrate tumors and release hormones like norepinephrine that promote tumor growth.
What are some major complications associated with cancer?
- Host tissue damage
- Damages to multiple organs
- Cardiac tamponade
- Intracranial pressure
- Malignant pleural effusion
- Spinal cord compression
- Hypercalcemia
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Pain
- Compromised immunity
- Septic shock
What are the components of cancer diagnosis?
- Clinical diagnosis
- Histopathology
- Diagnostic imaging
What does the TNM staging system stand for?
- T: the size and nature of the tumor
- N: lymph node presence of tumor
- M: Metastasis
What types of systemic cancer treatments exist?
- Cytotoxic chemotherapy
- Targeted therapies
- Hormone therapy
- Molecular targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
What are the types of cancer chemotherapy?
- Cytotoxic agents (kill cells)
- Targeted anticancer agents (inhibit proliferation/survival of cancer cells)
List some cancer treatment-related complications.
- Loss of blood cells
- Alopecia
- Gastric ulceration and mucositis
- Neuropathic pain
- Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting
- Development of secondary tumors
What are the experimental models used for cancer research?
- Cell culture models in vitro
- Subcutaneous tumor model
- Orthotopic tumor model
- Spontaneous tumor models
- PDX model
True or False: Cancer cells can release neurotrophic factors that encourage nerve growth.
True
Fill in the blank: The most common cancer-related death occurs due to _______.
[Lung cancer]
What is the role of norepinephrine in cancer?
Norepinephrine activates receptors on endothelial cells, promoting tumor angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation).
What are the methods of injecting patient tumors into immunocompromised animals?
Subcutaneously or orthotopically
These methods are used to study tumor growth in a controlled environment.
What imaging technique is used to visualize prostate tumor growth?
Bioluminescence imaging of luciferase tagged cancer cells
This technique allows for real-time monitoring of tumor progression.
How do cancer cells disseminate from their primary site?
Through vascular (hematogenic) and lymphatic routes
This process is crucial for the spread of cancer to secondary sites.
What is the term for the spread of cancer cells through lymphatic routes?
Lymphatic spread
This mechanism is one of the pathways for metastasis.
