Physiological Effects of Cancer

Question 1

What are some of the reasons why cancer is harmful to the body?

Answer 1

Waste of space (X perform regular cell functions)
Destroy body tissues without providing any benefits
Take resources away from other cells

Question 2

What are some of the ways in which cancer cells differ from healthy cells?

Answer 2

X differentiate
X respond to apoptotic signals
Make excessive growth signals
Order blood vessels to grow around them
Ability to metastasize

Question 3

What is angiogenesis? How is it related to cell signaling?

Answer 3

Process stimulating blood vessel growth around a cell providing them w/oxygen and nutrients - driven by cell signaling

Question 4

How does cancer take advantage of angiogenesis in order to keep growing?

Question 5

How does cancer affect other body tissues?

Answer 5

Metastasis

Question 6

What is metastasis? How does it occur and why is it harmful?

Answer 6

Mutation allowing cancer cells to detach from tissue and spreads to and harms other parts of the body (clogs blood vessels, lymph vessels, secrete enzymes that damage tissue

Question 7

How does the immune system normally monitor body cells?

Answer 7

Via displaying internal activities through membrane - checks for correct proteins on outside

Question 8

How does cancer affect the immune system?

Answer 8

Makes immune system inhibitors suppressing first line of defense

Question 9

What is the tumor microenvironment?

Answer 9

Ecosystem in which a tumor thrives;
cancer cells, immune cells, blood cells, extracellular matrix, proteins, ligands manipulating cells

Question 10

Why is cancer considered to be multiple diseases? In what ways do different cancer types differ from each other?

Answer 10

Depending on the cell it infects, the body will experience different effects - can greatly differ
Ex: Skin cancer - squamous cells: outer, basal cells: lower, melanocytes: pigment (more likely to metastasize