Chapter 7 Flashcards
Neoplasia
- means new growth
- implies abnormality of cellular growth
Malignant
- a tumor that can kill the host if untreated
- can be invasive or metastisizing
- cancer is graded on a 1-4 level (1 closely resembling original tissue while 4 looks nothing like it)
- rapid growth
- dysfunctional
Invasive
spreads to nearby tissues
metastasizing
spreads all over the body
angiogenesis
caused by angiogenic proteins; formation of new blood vessels from previous ones in otder to help cancer grow
Benign
cannot kill host on its own but can be life threatening due to location
- slow growth
- does not spread
- encapsulated
- oma
a suffix that indicates a benign tumor
- carcinoma
- sarcoma
suffixes that indicate malignant tumors
Carcinoma
tumor has an epithelial origin (skin or membrane)
Sarcoma
tumor has a mesenchymal origin (nerve, bone, or muscle)
Malignant tumor exceptions to naming rule
lymphomas, hepatomas, melanomas
Lifestyle factors that contribute to cancer risk
tobacco use nutrition obesity sun exposure (skin cancer) sexual exposure (cervical cancer)
Two types of carcinogens
Initiator (causes genetic damage)
promoter (promotes tumor growth)
Carcinogen
a potential cancer causing agent
Proto-oncogene
enhances growth producing pathways
oncogene
a proto oncogene in its mutant overactive form (cancerous form)
Tumor suppressor gene
inhibits cell proliferation
cancers arise when suppressor gene function is lost or abnormally inhibited
Types of Retroviruses
HIV - kaposi’s sacrcoma
Epstein-Barr virus - burkitt lymphoma
Human T-lymphocyte virus type 1 - adult t cell leukemia/lymphoma
Retrovirus
a virus composed of RNA that contains the reverse transcriptase enzyme
The Rb gene
normally functions as the “master brake” for the cell cycle
blocks/stops cell division
inactivated Rb genes are common in some cancers
p53 gene
the most common tumor suppressor gene defect indentified in cancer cells
Normally inhibits cell cycling after DNA damage
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
tumor suppressor genes that are associated with breast cancer
The multistep nature of carcinogenesis
initiation, promotion, and progression
Initiation
events in this stage include genetic mutations and proliferation
Complete carcinogen
capable of initiating cell damage and promoting cellular proliferation
Partial carcinogens
stimulate growth but unable to cause significant genetic mutations
Promotion
stage during which mutant cell proliferates. Cancer cells produce telomerase (allows for immortality)
- another oncogene is activated
- tumor suppressor gene is inactivate
- infection
- nutritional factors
Progression
the mutant proliferating cells begin to exhibit malignant behaviors
Tumor Markers
help to identify the parent issue of cancer origin
Types of tumor markers
CA 125 - ovarian CA19-9 - pancreatic CEA - mainly colon but can be many different cancers PSA - prostate BRCA 1&2 - breast
Grading and staging of tumors
used to predict the clinical behavior of malignant tumor and help guide theraputic management
Staging
depends on
- location and patterns of spread within the host
- tumor size
- extent of local growth
- lymph node and organ involvement
- distant metastasis
TNM system
T - tumor
N - nodes involved
M - Metastasis
Effects of cancer on the body
Depends on location of tumor and extent of metastasis
early stages may be asymptomatic
as tumor increases in size and spreads, more symptoms apparent
General Warning signs: C.A.U.T.I.O.N.
C - Change in bowel or bladder habits
A - A sore that does not heal
U - Unusual bleeding or discharge
T - Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
I - Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
O - Obvious change in wart or mole
N - Nagging cough or hoarseness
Warning signs in C.H.I.L.D.R.E.N.
C - Continued unexplained weight loss
H - Headaches with vomiting in the morning
I - Increased swelling/persistent pain in bones/joints
L - Lump or mass in abdomen, neck, or elswhere
D - Development of whitish appearance in pupil
R - Recurrent fevers not caused by infections
E - Excessive bleeding or bruising
N - Noticeable paleness or prolonged tiredness
Cachexia
overall weight loss and generalized weakness
Leukopenia
Deficiency in circulating white blood cells. Can cause changes in chemotherapy treatment due to low WBC count
Thrombocytopenia
Deficiency in circulating platelets. causes trouble with clotting
Pancytopenia
the presence of anemia, leukopenia, and throbocytopenia at the same time
Paraneoplastic syndromes
tumor production of hormones or cytokines
- hypercalcemia
- Cushing syndrome (ACTH secretion)
- Hyponatremia and water overload (ADH secretion)
- SADH (syndrome of anti diuretic hormone)
Cancer Therapy
Mainstays -surgery -radiation therapy -drug/chemo therapy Emerging -immunotherapy -targeted molecular therapies -stem cell transplantation
Surgery
- removal of solid tumors
- commonly accompanied by radiation or chemo therapy
Radiation Therapy
- kills tumor cells by damaging DNA
- kills cells that were missed by surgery or undetected
- some normal cells are killed as well
Drug therapy
- the systemic administration of anticancer chemicals to treat cancers known or suspected to be disseminated in the body
- can also cause normal cell death
- very effective on rapidly dividing cells
- causes bone marrow suppression
Immunotherapy
involves the use of interferons, interlukins, and monoclonal antibodies. Used in conjunction with surgery, irradiation, and chemo
Adjuvant Therapy
therapy used in conjunction with other things
Stem cell transplantation
used to manage life threatening disorders in which patients bone marrow cannot manufacture wbc’s, rbc’s, or platelets. Provides a method to restore bone marrow function
