Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Cancer Pharmacology > Skin Cancer > Flashcards

Skin Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three types of skin cancer?

A

Melanoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the keratinocyte skin cancers?

A

Squamous cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

where are keratinocytes?

A

in the epidermis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What layer of the epidermis does basal cell carcinoma arise?

A

the basal layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What layer of the epidermis does squamous cell carcinoma arise?

A

the suprabasal layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where does melanoma arise from?

A

Melanocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where are melanocytes?

A

Scattered along the basal layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What percentage of cancers are non-melanoma skin cancers?

A

1/3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

of non-melanoma skin cancers, how many are basal cell carcinomas?

A

3/4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

of non-melanoma skin cancers, how many are squamous cell carcinomas?

A

1/4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the difference between basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas?

A

Basal cell carcinomas cannot metastasis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is squamous cell carcinoma associated with? Therefore who does it effect the most?

A

Cumulative UV-exposure

Elderly people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Who are at higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma?

A

Those who are immunosuppressed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What percentage of squamous cell carcinomas are linked to immunosuppression?

A

11%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What percentage of metastatic squamous cell carcinomas are linked to immunosuppression?

A

40%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the issue with UVA?

A

It is very prevalent
Longer wavelength and therefore penetrates deeper in the skin
Causes indirect DNA damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the issue with UVB?

A

It causes direct DNA damage

1,000 times more damaging than UVA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How does UVB induce DNA damage?

A

It is incorportated into the DNA helix -> forms covalent linkages to form cycloburane pyramidine dimers (CPDs) and 6,4 photoproducts -> interferes with base pairs during DNA replication -> mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Which photoproduct is more common, CPD or 6,4 photoproduct?

A

CPDs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Which photoproduct is more mutagenc, CPD or 6,4 photoproduct?

A

6,4 photoproducts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are sun sensitive people?

A

Burn easily

Tan poorly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What increased your risk of skin cancer?

A 
Being sun sensitive 
Sun exposure 
Genetic 
Immunological factors 
Environmental carcinogens 
Age 
Photosensitising drugs 
Human papillomavirus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How can sun exposure increase your chance of developing skin cancer?

A

Dose and pattern
The latitude
If you burnt in childhood
Intensive intermittent exposure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How can genetics increase your chance of developing skin cancer?

A

Skin type
Albinism
Xeroderma pigmentosum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

How can immunological factors increase your chance of developing skin cancer?

A

Immunosuppression
Malignancies
HIV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What environmental carcinogens increase your chance of developing skin cancer?

A

Ionising radiation
Arsenic
Trauma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is xeroderma pigmentosum?

A

When you cannot repair the damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

why do sun sensitive people burn and not tan?

A

they produce pheomelanin instead of eumelanin

Pheomelanin absorbs UV less effectively

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What do freckles mean?

A

You cannot tan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is solar lentigines?

A

Sun induced permanent freckles

31
Q

What do sunburn and solar lentigines mean?

A

UVB damage

32
Q

What is solar ageing?

A

Skin ageing

33
Q

What is solar ageing associated with?

A

penetration by UVA effecting elastin fibres and collagen

34
Q

What is sunburn caused by?

A

a protective measure where keratinocytes are badly UV-damaged and undergo apoptosis

35
Q

How much does childhood sunburn increase your chances of melanoma?

36
Q

How is chronic UV exposure immunosuppressive?

A

Dendritic cells lose abilities to present antigens
T cells switch from helper to suppressor (Tregs dominate)
Keratinocytes and dendritic cells secrete immunosuppressive cytokines

37
Q

How does immunosuppression increase cancer risk?

A

Remove immune surveillance

38
Q

In transplant patients, how much is SCC risk increased?

A

100-200 fold

39
Q

In transplant patients, how much is BCC and melanoma risk increased?

40
Q

How are bone marrow transplant patients effected in terms of SCC?

A

It is more aggressive, more metastatic and do not tend to respond to treatment

41
Q

What pathway tends to be effected in BCC?

A

Hedgehog signalling, involving PTCH

42
Q

How many people tend to develop inactivating mutations in PTCH?

43
Q

Apart from PTCH, what other mutation occurs in BCC and how often does this occur?

A

Activating mutation in SMO

10%

44
Q

What drug inhibits the hedgehog pathway?

A

Vismodegib

45
Q

What is the side effects of Vismodegib?

A

Effects the dermal capillaries on the tongue and effects peoples taste buds and makes them unable to eat

46
Q

What percentage of melanomas have a Braf mutation?

47
Q

What is the critical transcription factor in melanoma?

48
Q

What does vemurafenib target?

A

BRAF V600E

49
Q

Name a anti-CTLA-4 drug

A

Ipilimumab

50
Q

Name a anti-PD-1 drug

A

Pembrolizumab

51
Q

Why is anti-PD-1 typically used by itself?

A

Patients cannot tolerate the dose in combination

52
Q

What did whole genome sequencing of SCC show?

A

They have large number of copy number changes

53
Q

What is a sign of SCC development?

A

Actinic keratoses

54
Q

What is chronic sun exposure associated with?

A

Increase clone size

55
Q

What is the issue with p53 mutations and continued sun exposure in SCC?

A

If you have a p53 mutation in the beginning then you will not get apoptosis, however, further skin exposure can cause the p53 mutations to expand without the need for other mutation

56
Q

what gene is most highly mutated in cSCC?

57
Q

How many cSCCs have NOTCH1 and/or NOTCH2 mutations?

58
Q

What is NOTCH?

A

A tumour suppressor and oncogene depending on the conext

59
Q

What cancers is NOTCH an oncogene in?

A

T-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia
B-cell malignancies

60
Q

What cancers is NOTCH a tumour suppressor in?

A

Head and neck SCC

61
Q

What is FAT1?

A

A negative regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin

62
Q

What is signature 32 associated with?

A

Immunosuppression

63
Q

What increases signature 32?

A

Azathioprine (immunosuppressive drug)

64
Q

How does azathioprine induce cancer?

A

It is metabolised -> incorporated into DNA -> produces ROS when exposed to UVA -> damages DNA -> decreased nucleotide excision repair -> increase mutagenesis

65
Q

What is DNA 6-TG?

A

a UVA photosensitiser

66
Q

If a patient has to receive azathioprine, what should they also do?

A

Photoprotect

67
Q

What is the primary prevention against skin cancer?

A

Photoprotection

Diet and drug

68
Q

What is the secondary prevention against skin cancer?

A

Surgery if it might be invasive SCC
Lesion directed destructive treatments
Topical agents e.g. 5-FU and Imiquimod
Photodynamic therapy

69
Q

Give an example of a lesion directed destructive treatment

A

Cryotherapy

70
Q

What is the issue with photodynamic therapy?

A

It is typically not well tolerated

71
Q

What does Imiqumod do?

A

Increases the immune system to remove the tumour

72
Q

What are retinoids used for?

A

helps to differentiate the skin and prevents early lesions from developing?

73
Q

Why do retinoids have to be used at low doses?

A

If you take a patient off them, e.g. due to side effects, the lesions rebound so better to use at low doses for life than higher doses and rebound occur

Cancer Pharmacology (13 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions