Cancer pathophysiology Flashcards
What is the difference between hyperplasia and dysplasia?
Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of normal appearing cells.
Dysplasia is cells that look abnormal but are not cancerous.
______ tumours are invasive and metastasise.
Malignant
3 causes of cancer are?
Genetics
Carcinogens
Tumour suppressors
What do tumour suppressors do?
What is the effect of inactive TS?
TS genes slow cell division, promote DNA repair and orchestrate apoptosis.
When they are inactive the result in cancer.
What is the difference between proto-oncogenes vs oncogenes.
Proto-oncogenes: a normal gene that regulates cell growth and differentiation.
Oncogene: A mutation that upregulates gene expression.
What is an example of a TS?
P53
What are the genes that increase the risk of breast cancer?
BRCA 1&2
What is an example of a carcinogen?
Asbestos, benzene, UV, H.pylori, HBV, HCV, HPV
How does cancer spread?
It crosses the basement membrane of the epithelium and invades other organs.
What are the major routes of metastasis?
- Via blood
- via lymphatic system
- seeding into body cavities
- surgical incision tracts.
What are signs of cachexia?
fever, anorexia, wasting, depression, fatigue. This is due to the body’s energy being absorbed by the tumour.
What is paraneoplastic endocrine disease?
Increase in secretion of hormones, cytokines from malignant tissue.
What local effects of a tumour?
Compression, obstruction, bleeding/ulceration
What are distant effects of a tumour?
Paraneoplastic syndrome, cachexia, pain.
What are the 4 treatment options for cancer?
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Immunotherapy
What determines whether someone is eligible for surgery?
Absence of distant metastasis.
No local infiltration.
What is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women?
Breast cancer.
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
- increasing age
- family hx
- mutations in BRCA2 & BRCA1
- exposure to Oestrogen
- starting menstruating before 12
- high BMI and lack of exercise
- smoking/drinking
S/S of breast cancer
pain in breast, lump in breast that is hard and immovable, nipple discharge or bleeding, skin or shape change, discomfort or swelling in the armpit
What is the 2nd most common cancer in females?
Cervical cancer
High risk types of ___ account for 90% of cases of cervical cancer. It interferes with ___, a TS.
HPV, p53.
What are dietary causes of cervical cancer?
lack of Vit A, C and folic acid.
Pelvic pain and unusual bleeding are signs of _____
Cervical cancer
What is the most common cancer for men?
Prostate cancer.
Mutation of BRCA1 or 2 can cause ______ and _____ cancer.
prostate, breast.
What is used to diagnose prostate cancer?
rectal examination, PSA (prostate specific antigen), US/MRI, Biopsy.
What are the common types of skin cancer?
Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma or Melanoma.
What increases the risk of developing melanoma?
Genetic predisposition, Solar radiation, Sunlight, moles
What does ABCDE stand for when examining moles?
A - asymmetry B- border (uneven) C - colour (multiple colours) D - diameter (larger that 1/4inch) E - evolving
What are the risk factors for lung cancer?
- smoking
- exposure to smoke
- occupational exposures
- air pollution
- age
- family hx.
A persistent cough, chest pain, SOB, loss of appetite, weight loss, chronic chest infection are S/S for what?
Lung cancer.
What is stage 0 cancer?
It is when the cancer is still the location where it starts.
What is stage 1 cancer?
localised cancer that has spread a little but not into any lymph nodes.
What is stage 2 & 3 cancer?
Cancer is larger and spread to a regional area or lymph nodes.
What is stage 4 cancer?
Cancer has metastasized to distant parts of the body.
What does TNM mean?
T - size of tumour 1-4
N - number of lymph nodes effected 0-3
M- whether cancer has metastasized and to what extent.
What is a Nevus?
A type of mole that looks different from a common type of mole.
True/False: Lung cancer has a low survival rate.
True.
Why are malignant breast cancer lumps hard and fixed?
inflammation and infiltration make the lump hard and connect it to the surrounding tissue.
What is a side effect of lymph node biopsy?
Lymphedema
