Lecture 1 Flashcards
Intro Oncology
What is the incidence and prevalence of cancer in Canada ?
2 in 5 people will receive the cancer diagnosis in their lifetime
What are the characteristics of cancer ?
-Uncontrolled Proliferation
-Cellular Changes : unfunctional cell from its origin
- Local Invasion
- Metastasis
How do we call solid tumour : epithelial cells ?
Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma
What is the suffix for connective tissue tumours ?
ends with “sarcoma”
What is glioblastoma ?
solid tumour of neural tissue - glial tissue
What is astrocytoma?
solid tumour of neural tissue - astrocytes
What is the tumor of germ cells ?
germinomas
List all the liquid malignant tumours ?
Leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma
What is the process of carcinogenesis ?
Initiation
Promotion
Conversion
Progression
What are the common types of genetic mutations that cause cancer ?
BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation - germline
TP53 - tumour suppressor
What are the possible causes of somatic cancer ?
UV radiation
Chemicals ( alcohol, smoking, asbestos)
Viruses ( HPV, Epstein Barr Virus)
Chance - genetic mutations
What is the difference between germline and somatic mutations ?
Germline : hereditary, in all cells \
Somatic : some cells, needs a biopsy
What are the characteristics of an oncogenes ?
gene to cause cancer , leads to excessive genetic product and breaks the regular cycle and growth of a cell
What are proto ocogenes ?
normal genes that can change to be oncogenes
What is special about TP 53 ?
tumor suppressor genes that is difficult to treat
Name the hallmark of cancer ?
sustain proliferative
resisting cell death
induce angiogenesis
enabling replicative immortality
invasion and metastasis
evading suppressors
What are the emerging hallmarks and enabling characteristics ?
phenotype plasticity
non mutational epigenetic reprogramming
senescent cells
microbiomes
What is the difference between distant and local metastases ?
Local - >lymphatic
distant –> brain, lung, bone, liver
What are cancer prevention ?
reduce exposure to carcinogens
prevent infections
healthy and cancer free lifestyles
What is the highest preventable causes to cancer ?
Physical inactivity
What are cancer screening process ?
7 Warnings
bowel movements
sore that does heal
unusual bleeding
wart/mole
nagging cough
What are cancer early diagnosis ?
Mammogram –> breast
FIT ( fecal) –> colon
PAP –>cervical
What is the HPV vaccine ?
HPV is a common STI and associated with multiple cancer type
What is the efficacy of HPV vaccine in cancer prevention ?
vaccination before 17 yo leads to 90% reduction of cervical cancer
How is HPV vaccine provided in Canada ?
publicly funded up until 26 yo
What are the potential features of cancer to exploit for cure / slow the disease ?
killing ( dividing cells)
targeted (signalling and transduction )
immunotherapies (body immune system)
Endocrine ( hormone dependent)
angiogenesis inhibitors
Cancer diagnosis
History and physical exam (Palpations , meds, carcinogens, general health)
lab test results ( regular or tumour markers)
screening test results
Biopsy / surgical resection
What is a tumour grade ?
looking at the histology to provide a prognosis by the pathologist
What is the main purpose of Imaging ?
Xray, U/S and CT scan is to CONFIRM the presence of a mass and get an idea if it is typical of malignant
What is the mitotic activity ?
growth rate
Ki67
how aggressive is the cancer and how likely is the chemotherapy to respond
What is Ki67 ?
protein in the dividing cells and is a marker for growth fraction
What are the common biomarkers within cancer cells that the pathologist can test ?
cytogenetics, mutations and antigens