Oncogenesis

Question 1

What are the 3 stages of Cancer?

Answer 1

Initiation, promotion & progression

Question 2

How is cancer initiated?

Answer 2

By exposure to carcinogens

Question 3

During promotion?

Answer 3

Altered cells stimulated to divide by a tumour promoter, or removed by IS

Question 4

Cancer progression causes?

Answer 4

Develop more mutations and uncontrolled cell replication

Question 5

What is intravasation?

Answer 5

Cells in a primary tumour develop the ability to escape into the circulation

Question 6

What is angiogenesis?

Answer 6

Growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) enables the tumor to grow rapidly

Question 7

BRCA-1, BRCA-2 predispose to what cancer?

Answer 7

Breast

Question 8

Rb to?

Answer 8

Retinoblastoma

Question 9

APC to?

Answer 9

Colon cancer

Question 10

Reproductive hormones can act as?

Answer 10

Cancer promoters

Question 11

What are some ex. of chemical carcinogens?

Answer 11

1. DNA modifying chemicals which cause mutations
2. Lifestyle - cigarettes, alcohol, diet
3. Occupational exposure – insecticides, fungicides, asbestos etc

Question 12

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) predisposes to what cancer?

Answer 12

Cervical

Question 13

How many fruits and vegetables prevent cancer?

Answer 13

By blocking effects of carcinogens and suppressing growth of tumor cells

Question 14

Cancer blocker examples?

Answer 14

1. Flavanols– Green Tea
2. Glucosinolates- cruciferous plants: cabbage family, radishes, mustard, water cress

Question 15

Cancer suppressor ex?

Answer 15

Genistein(soy), gingerol (ginger), limonene (citrus), resveratrol (red wine), glycyrrhizin (liquorice ), curcumin (cumin), aspirin (willow bark

Question 16

Local effects of cancer caused by?

Answer 16

Compression or blockage of structures close by

Question 17

Local effects of cancer ex?

Answer 17

Effusions – build up of fluid, and blockages and bleeding of BV

Question 18

What are Paraneoplastic syndromes?

Answer 18

Symptoms unrelated to the initial tumour site and caused by Ectopic hormones or factors secreted by tumour cells

Question 19

Seven Warning Signs of Cancer

Answer 19

Change in bowel or bladder habits
A sore that does not heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge from any body orifice
Thickening or a lump in the breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
Obvious change in a wart or mole
Nagging cough or hoarseness

Question 20

What is Tumor Grading?

Answer 20

Microscopic/histologic examination of cells appearance and state of differentiation and number of mitotic cells

Question 21

What does tumor grading measure?

Answer 21

How different the tumour cells are from normal cells

Question 22

What is Tumor Staging?

Answer 22

Clinical, radiographic, surgical examination of extent and spread of tumour to help with treatment and prognosis

Question 23

What are the levels of Tumor Staging?

Answer 23

0 - IV

Question 24

What is the 1st treatment option for Cancer?

Answer 24

1. Surgery (but may trigger metastasis)
2. Radiation therapy

Question 25

What is radiation therapy?

Answer 25

Repeated low doses from a beam source (brachytherapy), implantation of a radioactive or systemic administration of radioisotopes which causes the breakage of DNA strands

Question 26

When is radiation therapy not effective?

Answer 26

When the tumour has mutations in the p53 tumour suppressor gene

Question 27

What does the 2nd treatment of Cancer involve?

Answer 27

1. Chemo (combined with radiation) 2. Hormone or Anti-hormone therapy 3. Immunotherapy 4. targeted Therapies

Question 29

What are targeted therapies?

Answer 29

Mainly monoclonal antibodies that target specific proteins/processes