Outline of Cancer Process Flashcards
1
Q
What are the three ways cancer is caused?
A
Initiation
Promotion
Progression
2
Q
How is cancer initiated?
A
Chemical carcinogens
Physical (ionising radiation/gene mechanisms)
Viral carcinogens
3
Q
How is cancer promoted?
A
Growth factors (Autocrine/Paracrine)
Oncogenes
4
Q
What is the progression mechanism of cancer?
A
Metastasis
5
Q
How does cancer treatment with Avastin work?
A
acts as an anti-VEGF antibody (prevents tumour angiogenesis)
VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor
6
Q
What are growth factors?
A
- polypeptides
- regulate cellular growth/function
- bind to cell membrane receptors
- stimulate intracellular signal transduction
- autocrine/paracrine
7
Q
Paracrine?
A
GF produced locally
8
Q
Autocrine?
A
- cell carries receptors and secretes GF
- cell escapes normal control mechanism
