introduction to malignant disease

Question 1

causes of cancer

Answer 1

mutations
inflammation
germline

Question 2

what cancers are HBV AND HCV associated with

Answer 2

hepatocellular
carcinoma

Question 3

what cancers are herpes viruses associated with

Answer 3

Epstein-Barr virus is associated with Burkitt’s lymphoma,
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and a subset of gastric carcinoma

Question 4

what is the proposed mechanism 1

Answer 4

Production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
that induce the formation of DNA cross-links,
single- or double-strand breaks that can drive:-
* genomic instability
* mutations within oncogenes and tumour
suppressor genes

Question 5

what is proposed mechanism 2

Answer 5

Cancer-associated inflammation leads to
immunosuppression of an anti-cancer
immune response

Question 6

what is proposed mechanism 3

Answer 6

Macrophages and monocytes cause remodelling
of tissue promoting proliferation - changes in
gene expression mediated by transcription
factors e.g. NF-κB which induces the expression

Question 7

what is leukaemia

Answer 7

Production of blasts / leukaemia cells
(undifferentiated white blood cells).

Question 8

what are solid tumours

Answer 8

An abnormal mass of tissue that usually does
not contain cysts or liquid areas.
E.g. sarcomas carcinomas and lymphomas
* Benign - usually encapsulated
* Malignant - has ability to invade tissue and
undergo metastasis

Question 9

what are characteristiocs of malginant solid tumours

Answer 9

-lack differentiation
-form tumours
- undego mestasis
- undergo angiogenesis