Environmental Factors and Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

List 5 environmental factors that contribute to cancer formation.

A

1 - Diet.

2 - Tobacco

3 - Alcohol.

4 - Infectious disease such as HPV.

5 - Pollution.

6 - Water contaminants.

7 - UV radiation.

8 - Medicine.

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2
Q

List 6 substances which contribute to air pollution.

A

1 - Particulate matter of 10 and 2.5 micrometers in diameter.

2 - Nitrogen dioxide.

3 - Sulphur dioxide.

4 - Ozone gas.

5 - Carbon monoxide.

6 - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

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3
Q

List 6 cellular effects induced by exposure to particulate matter.

A

1 - Sustained proliferative signalling.

2 - Cell death resistance.

3 - Angiogenesis induction.

4 - Activation of invasion and metastasis.

5 - Inflammation.

6 - Genome instability.

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4
Q

Define DNA adduct.

A

A form of DNA damage caused by covalent attachment of a substance to DNA.

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5
Q

List 3 pathways by which tobacco can cause cancer.

A

1 - Nicotine and tobacco carcinogens bind to receptors that trigger PI3K-Akt and PKA pathways, increasing angiogenesis and decreasing apoptosis.

2 - Tobacco carcinogens cause DNA adducts, causing mutations.

3 - Co-carcinogens of tobacco carcinogens trigger the PKC and AP1 pathways, enhancing carcinogenicity.

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6
Q

Define co-carcinogen.

A

A substance that promotes the effects of a carcinogen in the production of cancer.

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7
Q

List 3 cancers that are particularly more common in smokers than in non-smokers.

A

1 - Lung cancer.

2 - Oesophageal cancer.

3 - Pancreatic cancer.

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8
Q

List 4 group 1 carcinogens according to the IARC carcinogen classifications.

A

1 - Smoking.

2 - Exposure to solar radiation.

3 - Alcohol.

4 - Processed meats.

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9
Q

List 4 group 2a carcinogens according to the IARC carcinogen classifications.

A

1 - Emissions from high temperature frying.

2 - Steroids.

3 - Exposures working in hairdressing.

3 - Red meats.

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10
Q

List 4 group 2b carcinogens according to the IARC carcinogen classifications.

A

1 - Coffee.

2 - Gasoline.

3 - Welding fumes.

4 - Pickled vegetables.

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11
Q

Which type of cancer is most strongly associated with red meat intake?

A

Colorectal cancer.

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12
Q

Which type of cancer is most strongly associated with red meat intake?

A

Colorectal cancer.

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13
Q

List 3 foods that are anti-carcinogenic.

A

1 - Fibre.

2 - Fruit.

3 - Vegetables.

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14
Q

List 5 components of fruit and vegetables that are anti-carcinogenic.

A

1 - Fibre.

2 - Folate.

3 - Vitamin C.

4 - Vitamin E.

5 - Flavonoids.

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15
Q

List 4 reasons for the link between obesity and cancer progression.

A

1 - Cholesterol metabolites enhance metastatic proficiency by a process known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

2 - Obesity increases inflammasome activation in tumour-infiltrating myeloid cells, which drives increased IL-1 beta signalling (increasing mechanism #2 above). Adipocytes express VEGF-A in response to IL-1 beta, increasing tumour angiogenesis.

3 - Obesity increases myofibroblast content, which stiffens extracellular matrices and enhances cancer cell growth.

4 - Obesity causes an increase in monocyte expression of GM-CSF, promoting neutrophil expansion. Neutrophils then accumulate in the lung and promote growth of disseminated cancer cells.

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16
Q

What are crown-like structures?

A
  • Dead adipocytes surrounded by macrophages.

- A hallmark of the proinflammatory response.

17
Q

Describe the obesity-inflammation-aromatase axis.

A
  • Obesity increases inflammation.
  • Inflammation is associated with an increase in crown-like structures.
  • Crown-like structures are associated with increased aromatase expression.
  • Aromatase converts androgens into oestrogens.
  • Oestrogens are associated with increased risk of cancer.
18
Q

List 9 reasons that explain the link between increased alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.

A

Chronic ethanol consumption increases:

1 - Production of acetaldehyde.

2 - Induction of oxidative stress.

3 - Conversion of procarcinogens to carcinogens.

4 - Induction of DNA hypomethylation.

5 - Induction of Gi alpha subunit proteins and Erk-MAPK signalling.

6 - Accumulation of iron and associated oxidative stress.

7 - Inactivation of BRCA1 tumour suppressor gene.

8 - Increased oestrogen responsiveness.

9 - Impairment of retinoic acid metabolism.

19
Q

Which condition is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos?

A

Pleural mesothelioma.

20
Q

How does the proportion of cancers caused by lifestyle factors differ between men and women?

Why might this be?

A
  • In men, the proportion of cancers caused by environmental factors is 45%, whereas in women it is 40%.
  • This is mainly due to sex differences in smoking.
21
Q

List 7 forms of prevention for cancer caused by lifestyle factors.

A

1 - Quitting smoking.

2 - Avoiding sunlight.

3 - Clean water supply.

4 - Chemoprevention.

5 - Anticancer vaccines.

6 - Healthy diet.

7 - Exercise.