(SYNOPTIC) Cancer Recap Flashcards
What does the ‘pathobiology’ of cancer refer to?
How a cancer cell forms
What is cancer?
Collection of diseases
Can affect almost any organ/cell type
Underlying features of uncontrolled cell growth and division
How is a cancer cell formed?
Normal cell undergoes specific changes
Allows it to proliferate without limit
Spread to surrounding/distant tissues
What are the hallmarks of a cancer cell?
(1) Growth factor independence
(2) Insensitivity to growth inhibitors
(3) Proliferation without limit
(4) Avoid apoptosis
(5) Promote angiogenesis
- Development of new blood vessels
(6) Invade and metastasise
What causes cancer?
A single cell acquiring most/ all hallmarks of cancer via multiple mutations
Why is cancer more prevalent in older people?
Developing enough mutations to progress to a cancerous cell takes time
As it requires multiple mutations to achieve most/ all hallmarks
What are the aims in management of cancer?
(1) Prevention
(2) Early detection
(3) Total eradication
What is the hierarchy of aims in cancer management?
(1) Cure
- Eradication of tumour + metastasis
(2) Remission/ mitigation
- Significant reduction in tumour load
(3) Symptomatic care/ palliation
- Treatment of secondary complications
- Relief of symptoms
(4) Terminal care
- Improve quality of life
- Optimise symptom control
What are the main modes of therapy in cancer?
(1) Surgery
(2) Chemotherapy
(3) Radiotherapy
When is surgery appropriate in cancer therapy?
(1) Well-defined solid tumour
(2) Non-vital region
(3) Non-mutilating result
(4) Resection/ reconstruction possible (e.g. gut)
When is chemotherapy appropriate in cancer therapy?
(1) Adjuvant therapy following surgery/ radiotherapy
(2) Neo-adjuvant therapy prior to surgery/ radiotherapy
(3) Widely disseminated/ metastasised
(4) Diffuse tumour
(5) Palliation
- Reduce symptoms
(6) Some primary tumours
- e.g. Hodgkins lymphoma
When is radiotherapy appropriate in cancer therapy?
(1) Diffuse but localised tumour
(2) Vital organ/ region
- Head/ neck/ CNS
(3) Adjuvant therapy
(4) Palliation
What is the rationale of chemotherapy?
Target cancerous cells during rapid proliferation
What is important when choosing chemotherapeutic agents for use in combination?
Minimal overlap in toxicity
Why should chemotherapy be delivered intermittently?
To allow for recovery of most sensitive tissues
- Rapidly dividing, e.g. bone marrow/ gut mucosa/ hair follicles
