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Health Science > Cancer - What is Cancer & Development > Flashcards

Cancer - What is Cancer & Development Flashcards

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1
Q

Cancer Terminology

Proliferation

A

The process of cell growth and cell division leading to the expansion of the cell population

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2
Q

Cancer Terminology

Differentiation

A

When early cells (for example stem cells or progenitor cells) give rise to specialised cells

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3
Q

Carcinogenesis

What is carcinogenesis

A

The process by which cancers are generated

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4
Q

Carcinogenesis

What does carcinogenesis result from

A

An accumulation of errors in vital regulatory pathways

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5
Q

Carcinogenesis

What is the core feature of cancer

A

Uncontrolled proliferation (cell division and expansion)

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6
Q

Carcinogenesis

What are normal cells subjected to that control cell growth and what happens to this during carcinogenesis

A

Internal and external inhibitory signals that control cell growth and this control is lost in carcinogenesis

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7
Q

Carcinogenesis

What is as important as increased proliferation for carcinogenesis and why

A

Decreased rate of cell death -> the longer a cell lives, the more likely for genetic errors to occur

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8
Q

Carcinogenesis

What are essential for a tumour to survive and what is the name for the growth of these

A

New blood vessels are essential for a tumour to survive. The growth of new blood vessels is called angiogenesis

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9
Q

Carcinogenesis

General carcinogenesis description

A
  • carcinogenesis is a multi step mechanism
  • results from an accumulation of errors in vital regulatory pathways
  • uncontrolled proliferation (cell division and expansion) is the core feature of cancer
  • normal cells are subject to internal and external inhibitory signals that control cell growth
  • this control is lost during carcinogenesis
  • cells multiply and acquire additional changes that give it a survival advantage
  • these changes generate billions of cells
  • decreased rate of cell death as important for carcinogenesis as increased proliferation as the longer a cell is alive, the more likely for genetic errors that generate cancer to occur
  • new blood vessels are essential for tumour survival (angiogenesis)
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10
Q

what cancers are characterised with onset in childhood (2)

A
  1. Cancer of the eye
  2. Certain leukaemias
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11
Q

Lifestyle influences on cancer (6)

A
  1. Occupational cancers -> lab work, construction, radiographers etc…
  2. Free radical generation
  3. Carcinogens in cigarettes
  4. Mutations in repressor genes and oncogenes
  5. Inherited predisposition
  6. Diet
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12
Q

Cancer & genes

Cancers are generated by what (in terms of genes)

A

Changes in genes that have a role in controlling cell growth

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13
Q

Cancer & genes

What do gene changes in cancer cause

A

Changes in cell signalling pathways with the end result being uncontrolled growth

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14
Q

Cancer & genes

Definition of a repressor gene

A

A gene whose protein product inhibits a cell function

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15
Q

Cancer & genes

Definition of an Oncogene

A

A genes whose protein product contributes to carginogenesis

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16
Q

Cancer & genes

Definition of a Proto-oncogene

A

A gene present in normal cells that can as a result of a mutation become an oncogene

17
Q

The 2 strategies that cancer cells use to make energy from sugar in the tumour environment

A
  1. Aerobic respiration: cells use both sugar molecules and oxygen to make energy
  2. Anaerobic respiration: cells that are anaerobic use sugars to make energy -> formation of toxic lactic acid which kills nearby healthy cells, making room for more cancer cells
18
Q

5 cancer risk factors

A
  1. Smoking
  2. Diet
  3. Sex hormones
  4. Increasing age
  5. Family history
19
Q

What is the most common cancer in Ireland and why is it so prevalent

A

Skin cancer (26%)
We have a thinner layer of the ozone layer

20
Q

Cancer risk factors

Smoking as a risk factor for cancer

A
  • USA: 30% of cancer deaths due to smoking
  • Non smoker who lives w a smoker has a 30% higher risk of dying from lung cancer than when living w a non smoker
  • Smoking linked to increase in lung, mouth, oesophagus, pharynx, kidney, bladder cancer
  • Over 40 potential carvinogens isolated from tobacco
  • 20 year gap between increased tobacco consumption and lung cancer changes
21
Q

Cancer risk factors

Free radicals as a risk factor for cancer

A
  • They are ions/ molecules with unpaired electrons
  • They are highly reactive and likely to take part in chemical rxns
  • Superoxide and hydroxyl radicals can partake in unwanted side rxns, causing cell damage
  • Many cancers thought to be a result of reactions between free radicals and DNA, resulting in mutations that can affect the cell cycle and lead to malignancy
22
Q

Cancer risk factors

How does the body minimise damage by free radicals

A
  • As free radicals essential for life, body has mechanisms to minimise the cell damage done by them and to repair cell damgage that does occur
  • The enzyme, superoxidase dismutase, minimises free radical induced cell damage and repairs some of the damage
  • Antioxidants neutralise free radicals -> vitamins A, C, E are antioxidants
23
Q

Cancer risk factors

Diet as a risk factor for cancer

A
  • Fruit and veg (contain antioxidants) are protective against cancers
  • Eastern diet containing many plant products contains many beneficial ingredients
  • Western diet, opposite effect
  • Mediterranean diet: good as high in fruit and veg, red wine (phenols), complex carbohydrates and low saturated fat content
24
Q

Cancer risk factors

Diet - Fruit and Veg

A
  • High fruit and veg consumption associated w decreased risk of many cancers
  • High fruit and veg linked to low animal fat consumption
  • Carotenoids, found in many plants, are: rich in antioxidants, precursors of Vit A which hinders cellular proliferation
  • Plant derived vitamins, A,C,E have antioxidant properties
25
Q

Cancer risk factors

In what ways does fibre in the diet have a protective effect (3)

A
  1. Fibre may inactivate carcinogens
  2. Fibre may alter profile of gut micro flora
  3. High fibre diet is often one low in fat
26
Q

Cancer risk factors

Diet: In terms of fat and meat consumption, what increases the risk of cancer

A
  • A high total fat consumption especially of animal origin increases cancer risks in many sites
  • Animal fat high in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, increases risk of cancer
27
Q

Cancer risk factors

Obesity: Why has obesity been identified as a risk factor for breast and uterine cancers

A

Due to its effect on the production of the female sex hormone, oestradiol. Fat cells can synthesise the production of the mitogenic steroid oestradiol, that triggers hyper proliferation.

28
Q

Cancer risk factors

Diet: a high salt intake inreases the risk of what

A

Stomach cancer

29
Q

Cancer risk factors

Diet: What does a high alcohol consumption increase the risk of

A
  • The risk of breast, colon, liver and upper digestive tract cancers
30
Q

Cancer risk factors

Diet: What kind of effect do smoking and alcohol consumption have

A

A synergistic effect in cancers of the mouth, oesophagus and larynx. Synergistic = their combined effect is greater than if only one of them occured

31
Q

Cancer risk factors

Sex hormones: How does diet affect the level of testosterone

A

A low fat diet decreases the level of testosterone and is associated with a low prostate cancer risk

32
Q

Cancer risk factors

Sex hormones: How does diet affect the level of oestrogen

A

Obesity in women increases oestrogen synthesis which increases growth factors that stimulate proliferation of cells and particularly increasing risk of breast cancer

33
Q

Cancer risk factors

What do male and female hormones do to their target cells

A

Influence proliferation of their respective cancer cells

34
Q

Cancer risk factors

Is there a genetic association with cancer

A

There is with some cancers, but in none of them does it account for more than 10% of cases

35
Q

Cancer risk factors

What is a major trigger for skin cancer such as melanoma

A

UV light (from sun and tanning equipment)

36
Q

Cancer risk factors

The 4 viruses that cause human cancer and the cancers they cause

A
  1. Hep B&C -> liver
  2. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) -> cervix
  3. Human Immunodeficiency -> sarcoma (cancer in connective tissues)
  4. Human T-cell Lymphotrophic -> leukaemia

Health Science (10 decks)

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