Lecture 2 Flashcards
Lecture 2:
What are Benign Tumours?
1.) slow growing
2.) well-organized
3.) differentiated
4.) generally non-destructive
5.) rarely cause death (typically not harmful as non-cancerous)
Lecture 2:
What is an example of a harmful v s non-harmful benign tumour?
Eg; lipoma = non-harmful as wont cause cancer later and non-invasive
Eg; brain tumour that is non-cancerous and benign but will still cause issues as it is in such a critical location
Lecture 2:
What are Malignant Tumours?
1.) fast growing - quick division goes against rules & causes lots of cancerous cells
2.) unorganized - more weird looking (typically not smooth)
3.) loss of differentiation - cannot tell where cancer initiated once more develop & move
4.) ability to kill host tissues (cancerous & take over)
Lecture 2:
What is the continuum relation between benign & malignant tumours?
Benign tumours work way through continuum and can lead into malignant tumours… malignant tumours however will always be malignant and cant turn into benign
Lecture 2:
When discussing types of cancers, what are Carcinomas?
Solid tumours that originate in the epithelial cells (lining of all tissues)
Lecture 2:
What percentage of cancers are Carcinomas?
85-90% of all cancers are carcinomas
Lecture 2:
When discussing types of cancers, what are Melanomas?
Melanoma cancers originate in melanocytes (located in skin) and are mot commonly found on skin & are the most serious type of skin cancer
*develop from moles frequently
Lecture 2:
What is Non-melanoma skin cancer?
The most common type of skin cancer typically develops with age & doesnt spread
Lecture 2:
When discussing types of cancers, what are Sarcomas?
Solid tumours in connective tissue, bone, muscle, cartilage, & fat
- account for less than 2% of all cancers
Lecture 2:
What are 2 categories of Sarcomas?
Soft tissue arch as & osteosarcomas (not good to have but very common, mostly in young people)
Lecture 2:
When discussing types of cancers, what are Leukemias?
Cancers of blood forming organs (bone marrow & lymphatic systems)
Lecture 2:
What are the 2 main types of Leukemias?
1.) Acute - sudden onset with cells forming rapidly
2.) Chronic - slow onset for long period of time
Lecture 2:
How are Leukemias classified by cell type?
1.) Myeloid = myelogenous leukemia
2.) Lymphocytes = lymphocytic leukemia
Lecture 2:
What population has the most leukemia patients? What population has leaukemia as its most common types of cancer?
Leukemia = most common types of cancer in children but has the highest %’age of patients in the older adult population
Lecture 2:
When discussing types of cancers, what are Lymphomas?
Cancers of the lymphocytes that result in enlargement of the lymph nodes (5% of cancers are lymphomas)
Lecture 2:
What are the 2 distinct groups of lymphomas?
1.) Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) = cancer throughout the lymphatic system
2.) Hodgkins Lymphoma = cancer progressing through lymphatic system 1 node at a time (better than non as more progressive node by node rather than full system at once)
Lecture 2:
What is the origin of cancer?
Cancer develops from normal cells (through carcinogenisis)
- not developed through invaders like viruses/bacteria but they may act as promoters
Lecture 2:
What are 3 characteristics of cancerous tumours?
1.) cells in a tumour all have the same genetic makeup (tells you they all came from same starting cell)
2.) al cells in tumour developed from one single cell (“faulty cell” as they replicate uncontrollably & dont follow apoptosis)
3.) tumour arises from series of mutations in original cell & progeny of the cell
Lecture 2:
Define Apoptosis
Scheduled cell death that prevents over growth (key = cell death)
Lecture 2:
What are Mutations?
Permanent changes in DNA
- in humans, mutation rate = 1 in 1mil genes per cell generation
- takes as many as 6 independent mutations in specific gene to produce tumour
Lecture 2:
What are 3 ways Mutations occur?
1.) Inherited - genetics, in-utero, etc
2.) arise during DNA replication & recombination (most common)
3.) Caused by Mutagens (environmental agents) - eg; smoking, UV rays, pollutants…
Lecture 2:
Why are genetic mutations relevant to cancer?
Genetic mutations may result in the activation of oncogenes (greater risk of cancer if activated)
- dozens of different oncogenes discovered in human cancer
Lecture 2:
What happens when oncogenes are activated?
Activation of oncogenes increase the chances of getting cancer
*”proto-oncogene” = not activated
Lecture 2:
What is the role of Oncogenes?
Are excessively active versions of normal cellular genes called proto-oncogenes & activation of these can lead excessive proliferation & problems signalling apoptsis
Lecture 2:
What are 3 key points on proto-oncogenes?
1.) control cell division
2.) cell death
3.) other cell functions
Lecture 2:
Define proliferation
Cell division
Lecture 2:
What is a key points about oncogenes & developing cancer?
Cancer rarely results from activation of one single oncogene
