Carcinogenesis Flashcards
What is carcinogenesis?
Transformation of normal cells to neoplastic (cancerous) cells
What is oncogensis?
The transformation of normal cells to tumour cells (benign or malignant)
What is a carcinogen?
Something that causes cancer
What is an oncogene?
Something that causes a tumour
What types of carcinogens are there?
- Chemical
- Radiation
- Biological
- Viruses
5 Miscellaneous
Give some examples of chemical carcinogens and what type of cancer they cause!
Aromatic hydrocarbons - lung and skin cancer
Aromatic amines - bladder cancer
Give some examples of radiation carcinogens and what type of cancer they cause!
Ionising: radiographs - skin cancer
Non-ionising: UV rays - skin cancer
Give some examples of biological carcinogens and what type of cancer they cause!
Hormones:
increased oestrogen - mammary & endometrial cancer
Give some examples of viral carcinogens and what type of cancer they cause!
Hep B&C - hepatocellular carcinoma
HPV - papillomas - cervical cancer
Give some examples of miscellaneous carcinogens and what type of cancer they cause!
Asbestos - lung
What are some host factors that are carcinogenic?
- Race
- Constitutional
- Premalignant lesions
- Transplacental carcinogenesis
What ways can race be a carcinogen?
White people have a higher risk of skin cancer
What ways can your constitution cause cancer?
Inherited predisposition
Risk increases with age
Breast cancer risk is higher in women
What are some examples of pre-malignant lesions?
Colonic polyps
Cervical dysplasia
Ulcerative colitis & Crohn’s disease
Undescended testes
What’s an example of trans-placental carcinogenesis?
Diethylstiboestrol causes no harm in the mother but can cause vaginal cancer in female foetuses
