Intro & Epidemiology Flashcards
What is the difference between in situ and invasive cancer cells?
invasive cancer cells have undergone mutations that allow them to invade surrounding tissue
in situ (in place): cancer cells that are not able to invade surrounding tissue
Benefits of Colonoscopy
specialist can identify if cells have mutated so much that it can spread
-can tell when to wait for another colonoscopy or to cut the cancer cell off
What has reduced the number of mortality in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Cytotoxic therapy
What has reduced the number of mortality in CML patients around 2001?
New drug Gleevec (imatinib mesylate)
(there is only one single mutation in CML)
What are the predictable toxicities associated with Chemotherapy?
-Myelosuppression (bone marrow suppression)
-Mucositis
-Alopecia
-N/V
-secondary cancers
-Chemotherapy is cytotoxic and indiscriminate kills all cells that divide rapidly
Difference between targeted therapy and Chemotherapy
-Targeted therapy is designed to target some unique aspect of a cancer that is mutated
-more cytostatic (doesn’t kill but slows the growth of the cancer)
-on-target toxicity (ex: epidermal cancer -> ADE: rash)
Why did incidence and mortality go down for lung cancer (the deadliest cancer in the US) around 1990?
Public health promotion for smoking cessation
What are the two advantages of screening for cancer?
-fewer cases of cancer
-less mortality
Disadvantage of Screening
Incidence of prostate and breast cancer went up due to screening, but the mortality only decreased slightly
-people were treated for a cancer that they probably wouldn’t have died from
Why did refrigeration lead to a decrease in stomach cancer around 1930?
less need for smoked meats bc it could be preserved in the fridge (smoked meats are carcinogenic)
-fruits and vegetables could be stored and transported better
