Chapter 11 - Oncology Flashcards
Most common cancer in women?
Breast
Most common cause of CA related death in women?
Lung
Most common cancer in men?
Prostate
Most common CA related death in men?
Lung
What is a PET scan?
positron emission tomography scan. Identifies fluorodeoxyglucose molecules to help find metastases.
What do T-cells require to attack tumor cells?
MHC complex
Do natural killer cells require MHC to attack tumor cells?
no
Hyperplasia means what?
increased number of cells
Metaplasia means what?
replacement of one tissue with another (GERD - squamous esophagus changed to columnar gastric tissue)
Dysplasia means what?
altered size, shape, and organization of cells (Barrett’s esophagus)
Colon cancer marker?
CEA
Liver cancer marker?
AFP
Pancreatic cancer marker?
CA 19-9
Ovarian cancer marker?
CA 125
Testicular cancer marker?
Beta-HCG
Choriocarcinoma marker?
Beta-HCG
Prostate cancer marker?
PSA (highest sensitivity of markers)
Small cell lung cancer marker?
NSE
Neuroblastoma marker?
NSE
What happens in cancer transformation?
heritable alteration in genome - loss of growth regulation
What is the latency period of oncogenesis?
time between exposure and formation of clinically detectable tumor
What are the steps of oncogenesis?
Initiation - carcinogen interacts with DNA
Promotion of cancer cells
Progression to clinically detectable tumor
What are three mechanisms neoplasms can arise?
- carcinogenesis (smoking)
- viruses (EBV)
- immunodeficiency (HIV)
How do viruses cause cancer?
Contain oncogenes
What is translocation that occurs with EBV?
8:14 causes Burkitt’s lymphoma
c-myc causes nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Cervical cancer can be caused by what virus?
HPV
Gastric cancer can be caused by what organism?
H. Pylori
Hepatocellular can be caused by what virus?
Hep C (also causes splenic lymphoma), Hep B
Kaposi’s sarcoma can be caused by what virus?
HHV-8 (also causes primary effusion lymphoma)
Primary effusion lymphoma can be caused by what virus?
HHV-8 (also causes Kaposi’s sarcoma)
Splenic lymphoma can be caused by what virus?
Hep C (also causes HCC)
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma can be caused by what virus?
EBV (also causes Burkitt’s lymphoma) c-myc association
Burkitt’s lymphoma can be caused by what virus?
EBV (also causes nasopharyngeal carcinoma)
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma can be caused by what virus?
Human T-cell leukemia virus-1
What cell phase is the most vulnerable for radiation?
M phase
How does radiation therapy cause damage?
formation of oxygen radicals - damage DNA and other molecules. XRT can also cause small breaks in DNA primarily
How does higher energy radiation have a skin preserving effect?
maximal energy not reached until it gets to deeper structures
Why are fractionated doses of radiation helpful?
- allows for repair of normal cells
- allows reoxygenation of tumor cells
- allows for redistribution of tumor cells in cell cycle
What tumor types are very radiosensitive?
seminomas, lymphomas
What tumor types are very radioresistant?
epithelial, sarcomas
Why are large tumors less responsive to XRT?
lack of oxygen in the tumor