Epidemiology Flashcards
What is epidemiology?
The study of identifying common factors which contribute to the spread, growth, or development of a disease, and the evaluation of these factors in the context of current biological understanding
What is a carcinogen?
A cancer-causing agent
Lung cancer is 2 times greater in U.S. than…
Japan
Lung cancer deaths are 6 times greater in New Zealand than in…
Iceland
Nasopharyngeal/esophageal cancer is prevalent in…
Asia, Iran
Carcinomas present more frequently in what age group?
Over 55 years
Acute leukemia and brain neoplasm present more commonly in what age group?
Young
What are the three most common cancers in US men?
- Prostate
- Lung and bronchus
- Colon and rectum
What are the three most common cancers in US women?
- Breast
- Lung and bronchus
- Colon and rectum
What are the three most common cancer deaths in US men?
- Lung and bronchus
- Prostate
- Colon and rectum
What are the three most common cancer deaths in US women?
- Lung and bronchus
- Breast
- Colon and rectum
Lungs aren’t well innervated, so once symptomatic and screened, ___% have metastasized
50%
Generally, older age means ___ risk of cancer
increased
Which age groups tend to get Hodgkin’s and leukemia?
The young and the old
Nearly every malignancy is ___
There is ___% recovery without treatment
Nearly every malignancy is fatal
There is 0% recovery without treatment
What are inherited cancer syndromes?
Well-defined malignancies in which the inheritance of a single mutant gene (identified) greatly increases the risk of developing a neoplasm
Childhood retinoblastoma is a mutation of…
Rb
Familial adenomatous polyposis coli is a mutation of…
APC
Carrying the gene causes colon cancer
Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a mutation of…
p53
Spontaneous tumors are made throughout life
With familial forms of cancer, incidence is increased in…
genetic relatives
Are familial forms of cancer specific for one type of malignancy or non-specific?
May be either
Unlike inherited cancer syndromes, familial forms of cancer have no…
no consistent link to a specific genetic mutation
How is tobacco smoke typically measured as a suspected carcinogen?
Pack/years + tar concentration
What are some viruses and bacteria that are known/suspected carcinogens?
Viruses: HPV, EBV, HBV
Bacteria: H. pylori
Which demographic is most prone to alcoholism?
College students
List some known/suspected carcinogens
- Tobacco smoke
- Dietary carcinogens/insufficiencies
- Alcohol
- Radiation
- Chemicals
- Therapeutic drugs
- Viruses
- Bacteria
Low risk strains of HPV include…
papilloma (warts)
High risk strains of HPV include…
cervical carcinoma and oral carcinoma
How do high risk strains of HPV compare to low risk strains of HPV?
High risk strains: contain different DNA sequences; viral protein products degrade p53 gene product
Low risk strains: do not degrade p53 gene product
What is EBV?
What cells are infected?
Epstein-Barr virus
Infects epithelial cells and B lymphocytes
In healthy individuals, what is the effect of EBV?
Mononucleosis; flu/cold symptoms
In immunocompromised individuals, what is the effect of EBV?
B cell apoptosis is lost
What is Burkitt’s lymphoma?
Increased expression of bcl-2 caused by EBV
HBV has a strong association with…
hepatocellular carcinoma
What is the proposed mechanism of the association between HBV and hepatocellular carcinoma?
Chronic liver damage –> regenerative hyperplasia –> increased spontaneous mutations
H. pylori is linked to…
gastric carcinomas and B cell lymphomas of stomach (arising in mucosa associated lymphoid tissue)
What is the role of H. pylori for T cells and B cells?
Role of T cell stimulation of B cell proliferation
