Cancer Unit Flashcards
What characteristics do all cancers have in common
genetic, environmental, age increases risk, can affect any organ/tissue
What is a proto-oncogene
Control cell division by telling the cell to divide
What happens when a proto-oncogene becomes an oncogene
the cell divides uncontrollably
What is a tumor-suppressor gene
control cell division by telling the cell to stop dividing
What is an x-ray used to see
broken bones, lung diseases, digestive system
How does an x-ray work
uses radiation
How does a CT scan work
uses multiple x-rays in a tube to produce cross-sectional views
What is a CT scan used to see
bone, soft tissue, organs
How does an MRI work
uses magnets to produce detailed cross-sectional views
What is an MRI used to see
soft tissue (typically to identify diseases)
How does a bone scan work
Radioactive tracers go into the body are absorbed by the bone and can be seen
What is a bone scan used to see
full skeletal view (identify bone growth)
What do DNA microarrays measure
the amount of genes turned off and on in cancer cells vs normal cells
What is used in a DNA microarray
mRNA from both cancer and normal cells
What does red mean in a DNA microarray
The genes are only expressed in cancer cells
What does yellow mean in a DNA microarray
The genes are expressed in both cancer and normal cells
What does black mean in a DNA microarray
The gene is not expressed in either cancer or normal cells
What does green mean in a DNA microarray
the genes are only expressed in normal cells
What does the vibrancy of the color on a DNA microarray mean
it indicates the intensity of the gene expression
What are biological risk factors
age, infections
How do you reduce risk for biological risk factors
get screened often and get vaccinations
What are genetic risk factors
mutated gene that was inherited from parents, hereditary/familial cancer
What are environmental risk factors
pollution, UV radiation, radiation
What are behavioral risk factors
red meat/food that increases risk of cancer, smoking, alcohol, not taking preventative measures
