molecular pathology of cancer treatments

Question 1

describe breast cancer

Answer 1

a malignant tumour arising from the epithelial cells lining the ducts and lobules of the breasts.

Question 2

give 2 treatments of breast cancer

Answer 2

Anti-oestrogen drugs
Herceptin

Question 3

how do anti oestrogen drugs work

Answer 3

Giving drugs that block the oestrogen receptors on the cancer cells which inhibits their growth. The tumours are stained in the lab for oestrogen receptors so that oncologists can decide whether a breast cancer is likely to respond to anti-oestrogen therapy.

Question 4

how does Herceptin work

Answer 4

Herceptin is a drug that binds to the Her2 protein on the outside of the cell membrane.

Tumours overexpress a growth factor receptor on their cell surface called Her2 protein. This is coded for by the HER2 gene.

This drug binding to the protein on the surface of the cancer cells reduces their rate of growth.

Question 5

what symptoms do breast cancer patients present with

Answer 5

back pain and ‘spontaneous’ fractures many years after treatment has ended.

because it has a tendency to spread to the bone marrow

Question 6

where can breast cancer spread to

Answer 6

bone marrow
lungs
kidney
thyroid