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Patho > Lecture 3 - Cancers > Flashcards

Lecture 3 - Cancers Flashcards

1
Q

what is neoplasia?

A

new growth or proliferation of cells that serves no physiological purpose

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2
Q

how many times can a cell replicate approx?

A

50 times

telomeres shorten each time a cell divides until it can divide no more

tumour suppressant genes can also inhibit cell growth

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3
Q

what are the 3 ways a cell can misbehave in terms of cell replication?

A
  1. cancerous cells - divide without appropriate signals from hormones/growth factors
  2. mutations in tumour suppressant genes
  3. active telomerase allows for lengthening of telomeres

if these occur = unregulated cell proliferation

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4
Q

why do cancer cells proliferate?

A

do not respond to apoptosis signals and keep replicating instead of dying

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5
Q

how to cancerous cells maintain proliferation in terms of energy consumption?

A

undergo angiogenesis to make new blood vessels to get more blood and therefore more glucose to the area

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6
Q

what are some hallmarks of cancer cells?

A

genome instability and mutation
evade growth suppressors
sustain proliferative signalling
tumour promoting inflammation
telomers don’t shorten
get larger and move around body
avoid immune destruction
induce angiogenesis
resist apoptosis

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7
Q

what are the 5 stages of cancer cell evolution

A

normal cell – hyperplasia – dysplasia – cancer in situ – invasive

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8
Q

How is growth factor and cancer cells related?

A

cancer cells can make own growth factor to keep growing or can increase receptor numbers to use more growth factor

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9
Q

what are the main differences between benign and malignant tumours?

A

benign are encapsulation and don’t metastasize, are localised and usually slow growing

malignant are not encapsulation, grow rapidly and can metastasize

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10
Q

what are the two perspectives on development of cancer?

A
  1. genetic and molecular mechanism
  2. external and contextual factors
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11
Q

what are examples of acquired mutations?

A

tabacco
UV light
virus
age

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12
Q

what are examples of inherited or germline mutations?

A

Tumour suppressor genes
BRCA1 and 2

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13
Q

what are examples of oncogenes?

A

HER2 - controls cancer growth and spread
RAS genes - for cell communication pathways - cell growth and death

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14
Q

what is knudson’s two hit hypothesis?

A
  • both alleles need to be damaged in order for cancer to occur
  • i.e. if there if one allele has an inherited mutation, the other allele must be damaged for cancer to occur
  • if both alleles have no inherited mutations, the BOTH need to be damaged in order for cancer to occur
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15
Q

what are tumour suppressant genes?

A

A type of gene that regulates cell growth. When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated, uncontrolled cell growth may occur.

ex BRCA1 and BRCA2 - defect in DNA repair can lead to breast cancer
ex BRAF - melanoma

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16
Q

what are some risk factors for cancer?

A

smoking
physical inactivity, diet etc
alcohol
infections
pollution
carcinogens
radiation

17
Q

how does smoking cause cancer and what is the best prevention?

A

damage DNA and mutate tumour suppressant genes
prevention: cessation

18
Q

how does physical inactivity cause cancer, best prevention?

A

obesity can cause increased bioavailability of growth factors and sex hormones and increase tumour regulating adipocytes

prevention: healthy weight, diet, lifetsyle

19
Q

how does alcohol increase risk of cancer?

A

byproducts of alcohol metabolism are carcinogenic

20
Q

how do infections increase risk of cancer? what is the best prevention?

A

alter immune system function by reduction of T-cell activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines

prevention: vaccinations

21
Q

how does environmental pollution increase risk of cancer? what is the best prevention?

A

inhalation of carcinogens, consumption of contaminated food and water
prevention: limit exposure

22
Q

how do occupational carcinogens increase risk of cancer? what is the best prevention?

A

modified immune response, tumour suppressor action and inflammation
Prevention: reduction or elemination

23
Q

how does radiation increase risk of cancer? what is the best prevention?

A

deactivation of enzymes or rupturing or modifying of DNA
prevention: limit time or distance to exposure

24
Q

how is Epstein Barr virus related to cancer?

A

herpes virus increases risk of Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin’s and non-hodgekin’s lymphoma and stomach cancer.

no vaccine

25
Q

how is Hepatitis B related to cancer?

A

leading cause of liver cancer

vaccine recommended

26
Q

how is Hep C related to cancer?

A

leading cause of liver cancer, can cause non-hodgkins lymphoma

no vaccine but treatable

27
Q

how is human papillomavirus related to cancer?

A

12 sterains can cause cancer (anal, cervical, penile, throat, vaginal, vulvar)

Vaccine

28
Q

how is Human immunodeficiency virus related to cancer?

A

increase risk by damaging immune system, reducing body defences

no vaccine

29
Q

what is the link between hormones and cancer?

A

beleived that hormones can drive cell division of a malignant phenotype

30
Q

how is obesity linked to cancer?

A

insulin resistance increases production of insulin which has carcinogenic effect, enhances insulin growth factor and promotes tumour proliferation, inhibits apoptosis

31
Q

how do tumour suppressor genes slow cell proliferation?

A

maintain cell differentiation
edit and correct DNA damage

32
Q

what are proto-oncogenes?

A

normal genes coding for normal protein
if mutated becomes oncogene

33
Q

what are oncogenes?

A

abnormally functioning gene that activates growth, replication and survival signals
have unregulated proliferation and prolonged survival
ex: MYC and RAS

34
Q

what are tumour marker tests?

A

chemicals made by tumour cells that can be detected in the blood

ex: PSA for prostate
AFP for liver cancer
HCG for germ cell tumours

35
Q

what is cachexia?

A

severe form of malnutrition resulting in wasting and extensive loss of adipose tissue

36
Q

what is the ABCD warning signs of melanoma?

A

Asymmetry
Border irregularity
Change in colour or pigmentation
Diameter more than 6mm

37
Q

what are the 4 stages of cancer?

A
  1. Primary - confined to organ of origin
  2. Locally invasive
  3. spread to regional structures (lymph nodes)
  4. spread to distant sites (metastasis)

Patho (10 decks)

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