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Cancer Biology > Lecture 2- Etiology and Epidemiology of Cancer > Flashcards

Lecture 2- Etiology and Epidemiology of Cancer Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two underlying causes of cancer?

A

-DNA damage
-Genomic instability

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2
Q

What are the two types of cancer?

A

-Sporadic/spontaneous cancer: occurs randomly
-Inherited genetic mutations/familial cancers: genetic mutations inherited from parents, that eventually lead to cancer

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3
Q

Are cancers contagious among humans?

A

No, generally non-contagious; there are some very rare forms of cancers that are contagious

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4
Q

Discuss this genetic mutation and how it can cause cancer.

A

This is a reciprocal translocation of the Q arms of chromosomes 9 and 22. The Q arm of chromosome 9 breaks just above the ABL gene. The Q arm of chromosome 22 breaks just below BCR gene. The two genes fuse, creating a fused active BCR-ABL protein. The protein interacts with Interleukin 3beta(c) receptor subunit, triggering a downstream pathway. This mutated chromosome is much more active than the wild type. This results in cell cycle control loss, causing cells to replicate at a rapid pace, leading to cancer, particularly leukemia.

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5
Q

Discuss an example of how cancer can be transmitted through organ transplantation

A

A 53-year-old woman was an organ donor when she died. She had no relevant medical history, and no sign of metastasis in any tissues. She donated her kidneys, lungs, liver, and heart. The lung recipient died of metastatic adenocarcinoma. The left kidney recipient died of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast. The liver recipient died of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast. The right kidney recipient survived but ended up getting metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast. Shows that micrometastasis can stay undetected.

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6
Q

Define transmissible cancer

A

a cancer cell or cluster of cancer cells that can be transferred between individuals without the involvement of an infectious agent

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7
Q

Discuss devil facial tumor disease (DFTD)

A

It is an aggressive non-viral clonal transmissible cancer that affects Tasmanian devils; develops in the face, and when they bite others, they can transmit the cancer cells.

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8
Q

What is the most significant risk factor of cancer?

A

Age

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9
Q

Is cancer preventable?

A

Over one-third of cancer deaths can be prevented; In the US, 75-80% of cancer associated deaths are preventable

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10
Q

Discuss hereditary cancers

A

They consist of 3-10% of all cancer cases, although there are 50 identified hereditary cancers, less than 0.3% of population are carriers of cancer-related genetic mutations

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11
Q

Define cancer syndrome

A

Aka inherited genetic defects; genetic disorder in which inherited genetic mutation in 1+ gene predisposes the affected individual to cancer development; the risk varies, however

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12
Q

What are some mutations that cause cancer syndrome cases

A

Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs)
DNA repair genes
oncogenes
genes involved in the production of blood vessels

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13
Q

What mutations increase risk of breast/ovarian cancer

A

in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

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14
Q

What are the two types of colorectal cancer; What are they caused by

A

familial adenomatous polyposis
hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer
inherited genetic disorders

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15
Q

What can genetic testing do in diagnosing cancer?

A

can be used to identify mutated genes or chromosomes that are passed through generations

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16
Q

What are the two classes of gene mutations

A

-germline or somatic
-they depend on the cell type that they appear on
-germline mutations are carried through generations and increase the risk of cancer

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17
Q

Discuss Ataxia telangiectasia

A

Involves mutated ATM gene (repairs DNA damage); leads to a higher risk of blood cancer

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18
Q

Discuss Bloom syndrome

A

-characterized by short stature
-involves mutation of the BLM gene (which controls RecQ DNA helicase)
-increases risk of blood cancer and carcinoma

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19
Q

Discuss Fancoci anemia

A

-involves mutation in DNA damage repair genes
-increases risk of blood cancer

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20
Q

Discuss Li-Fraumeni syndrome

A

-involves mutation in the p53 germline
-increases risk of breast cancer; sarcoma

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21
Q

Discuss Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

A

-involves mutation in PTCH1 gene
-increases risk of skin cancer

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22
Q

Discuss Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome

A

-involves mutation in VHL gene
-increases risk of renal carcinoma and other carcinomas

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23
Q

Discuss Werner syndrome

A

-characterized by premature aging
-involves mutation of WRN gene (accelerates DNA methylation)
-increases risk of a variety of cancers

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24
Q

Discuss Xeroderma pigmentosum

A

-characterized by skin pigment
-involves mutation of DNA damage repair gene caused by UV lights
-increases risk of skin cancer

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25
Q

Approximately 20,000 cancer deaths and 40,000 new cases of cancer are attributed to what?

A

occupation; exposure to physical and chemical agents in the workplace

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26
Q

What cancers is smoking tobacco linked to

A

-lung (80% of cases)
-larynx
-stomach
-bladder
-esophagus
-pancreas
-blood

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27
Q

What are the carcinogenic properties of tobacco?

A

produce nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

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28
Q

How many deaths does second-hand smoke cause

A

58,000

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29
Q

How much death is tobacco responsible for

A

1/3 of all cancer deaths in developed world
1/5 worldwide

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30
Q

Discuss E-cigs and cancer

A

-daily/long-term/high-voltage smoking produces formaldehyde forming chemicals (at a higher level than plain smoking)
-lifetime cancer risk is 5x-15x more than smoking

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31
Q

What are some fibrous particulates that cause cancer

A

-asbestos
-wollastonite
-attapulgite
-glass wool
-rock wool
cause mesothelioma

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32
Q

What are some non-fibrous particulates that cause cancer

A

-powdered metallic cobalt and Nickel
-crystalline silica (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite)

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33
Q

What are some other occupational carcinogens

A

-arsenic
-benzene
-beryllium
-cadmium
-chromium
-ethylene oxide
-plutonium

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34
Q

What level carcinogen is alcohol

A

Group 1 carcinogen

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35
Q

What cancers does alcohol increase the risk of

A

-mouth
-esophagus
-larynx
-pharynx
-stomach
-liver
-colon
-ovaries

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36
Q

How does alcohol cause cancer

A

-alcohol converts to acetaldehyde (a carcinogen) and increased exposure to this causes cancer
-causes nutritional deficiencies by messing with metabolism
-causes changes in DNA methylation
-induces oxidative stress in tissues

37
Q

What cancers does red/processed meat increase the risk of

A

breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer

38
Q

What cancer does a high-salt died increase the risk of

A

gastric cancer

39
Q

What cancer does aflatoxin b1 increase the risk of

A

liver cancer

40
Q

What cancer does chewing betel nut increase the risk of

A

oral cancer

41
Q

What is Aflatoxin B1?

A

-a poisonous and cancer-causing cancer
-produced by certain molds: aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus
-lives in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains
-binds guanine in DNA and forms AFB1-guanine adducts
-causes G to T transversion at codon 249 of the p53 gene (tumor suppressing gene)
-causes hepatocellular carcinoma

42
Q

Discuss how obesity is related to cancer

A

-in the US, excess body weight showed association with the development of cancers
-excess body weight attributed to 14-20% of all cancer deaths
-bariatric surgery reduced cancer incidence and mortality

43
Q

How does obesity cause liver cancer?

A

Increased adipose tissue increases inflammatory environment, particularly in the liver; this increases risk of developing liver cancer

44
Q

How does physical inactivity affect cancer risk

A

Inactivity weakens the immune system and endocrine system, which helps cancer cells grow and migrate throughout body

45
Q

How do hormones affect cancer risk?

A

-hormonal fluctuation increases the risk of cancer
-increased estrogen and progesterone increases risk of breast cancer
-a mother with breast cancer leads to daughters with higher level of estrogen and progesterone, increasing risk of breast cancer in the daughter
-increased level of testosterone in men increases risk of prostate cancer in men of African, asian or European ancestry

46
Q

18% of cancer cases are related to..?

A

infectious diseases

47
Q

What cancer does HPV lead to

A

Cervical carcinoma in females

48
Q

What cancer does Epstein-Barr virus lead to

A

B-cell lymphoproliferative disease and nasopharyngeal carcinoma

49
Q

What cancer does Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus lead to

A

Kaposi’s sarcoma and primary effusion lymphomas

50
Q

What cancer does Hep B and C lead to

A

Hepatocellular carcinoma

51
Q

What cancer does human t-cell leukemia virus-1 lead to

A

t-cell leukemias

52
Q

What are some bacterias that cause cancer

A

-Helicobacter pylori can cause gastric carcinoma
-mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause lung cancer

53
Q

What are some parasites that cause cancer

A

-Schistosoma haematobium can cause squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder
-Liver flukes, opisthorchis viverrini, and clonorchis sinensis can cause cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)

54
Q

Discuss the radium girls

A

Radium was used to paint watch dials bc of its glowing property. The workers were told it’s a harmless dye, and they used their lips to help make the tips of the brushes fine, so they were ingesting the dye. Many died from oral/other cancers

55
Q

How does ionizing radiation increase risk of cancer

A

-It randomly hits molecules in the cell, destroying organelles in its path
-breaks up chromosome
-causes abnormal number of chromosomes
-inactivates one/more genes
-deletes parts of the DNA sequence

56
Q

What are the stages for ionizing radiation induced cancer

A

starts with morphological changes to cell
acquires cell immortality, causing cell to lose normal, life-limited cell regulatory processes, then there are adaptations

57
Q

What kind of cells does radiation affect the most

A

hematopoietic stem cells (produce blood cells)

58
Q

What are the main sources of exposure to ionizing radiation

A

medical imaging and radon gas

59
Q

How long does one need to be exposed to radiation to cause solid tumors?

A

10-15 years

60
Q

How long does one need to be exposed to radiation to cause leukemia?

A

2-10 years
2x the risk for children and adolescents
10x the risk for babies in the womb

61
Q

How does radiotherapy cause cancer

A

It is used for cancer itself, but it can induce cancer because it comes in direct contact with normal cells, and many become cancerous

62
Q

How does radon gas increase cancer risk

A

It is similar to passive smoking in increasing risk

63
Q

What are some examples of non-ionizing radiation?

A

UV radiation
x-rays
gamma radiation

64
Q

How does non-ionizing radiation increase cancer risk

A

more exposure increases risk

65
Q

What are some rare causes of cancer?

A

-maternal-fetal transmission through transplacental transmission
-organ transplantation

66
Q

What cancers can be caused through transplacental transmission

A

-acute leukemia
-lymphoma
-melanoma
-carcinoma

67
Q

Define epidemiology

A

Distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations

68
Q

Define prevalence

A

existence of current disease in specified population

69
Q

Define incidence

A

new cases of disease that develop in a population at risk over specified time period

70
Q

Define the epidemiology of cancer

A

the study of the factors affecting cancer, as a way to infer possible trends and causes; uses epidemiological methods to find the cause of cancer and to identify and develop improved treatments

71
Q

How many new cancer cases and cancer deaths in 2020?

A

19.3 million new cancer cases
10.0 million cancer deaths

72
Q

What is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2020

A

Female breast cancer

73
Q

What is the leading cause of cancer death in 2020

A

lung cancer

74
Q

Where was overall incidence rate higher? where?

A

2-3x higher; in developed countries over developing

75
Q

Which continent had the highest incidence rate? Country?

A

asia; china

76
Q

which continent had the highest mortality rate? Country?

A

asia; china

77
Q

Which continent had the lowest incidence rate? country?

A

Oceania

78
Q

Which continent had the lowest mortality rate? Country?

A

Oceania

79
Q

Which cancer has highest incidence rate?

A

Female breast cancer

80
Q

Which cancer has the highest mortality rate?

A

lung cancer

81
Q

Which cancer has highest incidence rate in males

A

Lung

82
Q

Which cancer has highest mortality rate in males

A

lung

83
Q

Which cancer has highest mortality rate in females

A

breast

84
Q

Which cancer has highest incidence rate in females

A

breast

85
Q

Which cancer has the most probable risk in males?

A

prostate; 1 in 2

86
Q

Which cancer has the least probable risk in males?

A

pancreas; 1 in 60

87
Q

Which cancer has the most probable risk in females?

A

breast; 1 in 3

88
Q

Which cancer has the least probable risk in females?

A

leukemia; 1 in 80

89
Q

Why was there a sudden spike in diagnosing prostate cancers?

A

Because there was an introduction of a new diagnostic tool called PSA (Prostate specific antigen) test

Cancer Biology (2 decks)

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