Pathogenesis of head and neck cancer 1&2 Flashcards
what type of cancer is the majority of head and neck cancers?
squamous cell carcinomas arising from the lining mucosa
what is neoplasia?
mass of tissue
Aneuploidy is common in tumour cells, what is Aneuploidy?
altered DNA content
name 4 components of neoplastic cells
blood vessels, inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, stroma
name 4 stages in the development of cancer
tumour growth
invasion
angiogenesis
metastasis
tumour growth
Tumours arise from ??? that has undergone ??
Further ?? in progeny leads to ?
This results in loss of function in ??? e.g. ? and activation of ? e.g. ?
one parent cell
genetic change
genetic changes
heterogeneity
tumour suppressor genes
P53
oncogenes
EGFR
invasion
? in cell-cell adhesion between tumour cells
Invasion of the ?? and ?
reduction
basement membrane
stroma
invasion of the basement membrane and stroma
Tumour cells bind to BM via ? and produce ?? e.g. ? to break up the ?
integrins
proteolytic enzymes
collagenase
matrix
tumour cells need to be motile
how is this achieved?
Have pseudopodia that attach to stroma
actin cytoskeleton enables movement
what is angiogenesis?
Formation of new blood vessels
what is angiogenic switch?
development of rich blood supply around a tumour
angiogenesis is stimulated by the production of factors
name two?
Vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF
Angiogenin
how can cancer therapy target angiogenesis?
anti-angiogenic drugs that inhibit angiogenesis
what is metastasis?
Tumour implants are discontinuous with the primary lesion
what is metastasis also called?
secondaries
