Module 17 Cancer Flashcards
1
Q
Cancer Definition
A
- Uncontrolled proliferation of cells
- Neoplastic cells
- Abnormal/uncontrollable cell growth
2
Q
Cancer Cell Characteristics
A
- Uncontrollable cell proliferation
- Invasive (adjacent tissue)
- Metastatic (travel to different sites)
3
Q
Treatment Options
A
- Surgery (tumour removal)
- Radiation (shrink tumours)
- Chemotherapy (drugs target cells)
4
Q
Radiation
A
- Shrink tumours
- Kill cancer cells
- DNA damage of ALL cells
5
Q
Cell Cycle Phases
A
- G0 resting, no cell replication
- G1, duplication prep (DNA)
- S, synthesizes DNA
- G2, mitosis prep
- M, division via mitosis
6
Q
Toxicity of Normal Cells
A
- Neoplastic cells similar to normal cells
- Difficult to only target cancer cells
- Occurs in cells with high growth fraction
7
Q
Growth Faction of Cells
A
- Ratio of proliferation cells to cells in resting (G0)
8
Q
Cell Types with High Growth Fraction
A
- Bone marrow
- GI epithelium
- Hair follicles
- Germinal epithelium of testes
9
Q
Curing Cancer
A
- 100% of cancer cells killed
- Difficult to test & determine
- First order kinetics
- Constant % of cells killed at dose of drug
10
Q
Breast Cancer
A
- Clinical examination every 2-3 years
- Women over 50
- Additional/earlier screening for high risk cases
11
Q
Cervical Cancer
A
- HPV risk factor
- Genital skin to skin contact spread
- Pap test 1-3 years for sexually active women
12
Q
Colorectal Cancer
A
- 50+ men & women
- Fecal blood test every 2 years
- Colonoscopy every 5 years for high risk
13
Q
Prostate Cancer
A
- 50+ men
- Digital rectal exam
- Prostate antigen blood test
14
Q
Skin Cancer
A
- Self-checks regularly
- Changes to birth marks/moles, skin growths, sores
15
Q
Testicular Cancer
A
- 15+ men
- Self testicular exam regularly
16
Q
Solid Tumours
A
- Large fraction of cells in resting (G0)
- Chemotherapeutic drugs target proliferating cells
- Poor response
17
Q
Drug Resistance Types
A
- Decreased drug uptake
- Increased drug efflux
- Decreased drug activation (prodrugs)
- Reduced target sensitivity
- Increased cellular repair (DNA)
- Decreased apoptosis (cell death)
18
Q
Intermittent Chemotherapy
A
- Allows time for normal cells to recover
- Normal cells must grow back faster than cancer cells
19
Q
Combination Chemotherapy
A
- Multiple agents more effective
- Decrease resistance
- Increased cancer cells killed
- Decrease injury to normal cells
20
Q
Decreasing Drug Resistance
A
- Acquired due to random cell mutation
- Unlikely cancer cells will undergo multiple mutation
- Multiple drugs equal more effective therapy
21
Q
Increasing Cancer Cells Killed
A
- Different mechanisms of action for each drug
- Attack cells in various ways
- Greater killed cells
22
Q
Decrease Injury to Normal Cells
A
- Drugs with no overlapping toxicities
- Greater anti-cancer effects
- Greater safety
23
Q
Bone Marrow Suppression
A
- Neutropenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Anemia
24
Q
Neutropenia
A
- Decreased neutrophils in blood
- Type of white blood cells
- Help fight infection