Skin Cancer Flashcards
skin is made up of what 3 layers?
- epidermis
- dermis
- hypodermis
what are the 4 layers of epidermis?
- stratum cornea
- stratum lucidum
- stratum spinous
- stratum basale
What are the 4 major types of skin cancer?
- Keratinocyte derived
eg basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma
aka Non melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) - Melanocyte derived
eg Malignant melanoma - Vasculature derived
eg Kaposi’s sarcoma, angiosarcoma - Lymphocyte derived
eg Mycosis fungoides
skin cancer arises due to accumulation of genetic _____ –> which causes it to ______ in a uncontrolled manner
skin cancer arises due to accumulation of genetic mutation –> which causes it to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner
What are some causes of skin cancer?
give examples of each cancer derived from each cause/.
- Genetic syndromes
Gorlin’s syndrome
xeroderma pigmentosum - Viral infections
HHV8 in Kaposi’s sarcoma
HPV in SCC - UV light (most common cause)
BCC, SCC, malignant melanoma - Immunosuppression
drugs, HIV, old age, - leukaemia
Malignant melanoma = tends to be of higher prevalence in white ethnicity individuals
-
Basal cell carcinoma = increasing in incidence
what are they caused by?
sun exposure
Genetics
UVA –>has higher penetration
- major cause of skin aging
contributes to skin carcinogenesis
-
How doe UVB induce DNA Abnormalities of the skin?
- UVB directly induces abnormalities in SNA
- -> induces photoproducts
- -> affects pyramiding Cytosine + thymine ases
–> usually repaired quickly by nucleotide excision repair
What things can UV damage induce to DNA?
- cell division
- dna repair
- cell cycle arrest defect.
What mutations can cause skin cancer?
- Mutations that stimulate uncontrolled cell proliferation
Eg abolishing control of the normal cell cycle (p53 gene)
2/ Mutations that alter responses to growth stimulating / repressing factors
3.Mutations that inhibit programmed cell death (apoptosis)
what is sub burn?
Exposure to UV –> build up of mutations –> apoptosis of the keratinocyte occurs –> protects cells from becoming cancer cells.
UVA and UVB effect the expression of genes involved in skin immunity
–> Depletes / increases Langerhans cells in the epidermis
UVA and UVB effect the expression of genes involved in skin immunity
–> Depletes / increases Langerhans cells in the epidermis
in exposure to UV, there will be a reduced immunocompetence + immunosurveillance
-
melanin is produced by
melanocytes within the basal layer of the epidermis