The Case Of The Abnormal Mammogram + The Case Of The Unfair Diagnosis Flashcards
example of an inherited oncogene mutation
RET mutation
what disease does RET mutation give you
multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid, pheochromocytoma, hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid adenoma
when to suspect MEN2?
2 or more endocrine tumours in a person
symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer (3)
nodule
hoarseness
dysphagia
Symptoms of phaeochromocytoma (3)
anxiety
hypertension
sweating
Symptoms of parathyroid adenoma (4)
Hypercalcaemia so abdo cramps, constipation, thirst, weakness
treating medullary thyroid cancer (2)
total thyroidectomy
levothyroxine
Treating phaeochromocytoma (2)
drugs for BP
unilateral adrenalectomy
screening for MEN2 involves what tests? (6)
calcitonin TFTs neck imaging metanephrines blood pressure calcium levels
example of a cancer caused by tumour suppressor gene mutation
retinoblastoma
Mutations in retinoblastoma
RB1 autosomal dominant mutation
then a 2nd somatic mutation
(2 hit hypothesis)
age of retinoblastoma diagnosis?
age of retinoblastoma diagnosis
usually children under 5
sign of retinoblastoma?
absence of red reflex
white reflex instead
most common eye tumour?
retinoblastoma
prevalence of unilateral vs bilateral retinoblastoma
60% unilateral
40% bilateral
Treating Retinoblastoma if found early? (2)
cryotherapy
laser eye surgery
treating retinoblastoma if found later? (2)
chemotherapy
enucleation
enucleation is…
surgical removal of the eyeball
Prevalence of breast cancer?
1 in 8 women
prevalence of BRCA mutations in breast cancer?
5-10% of breast cancers have these genes
How much does having a BRCA mutation increase your risk of breast cancer
goes up to 80% in women
history suggestive of BRCA mutation?
several family members with breast or ovarian cancer
diagnosed at younger ages
men with breast cancer in families with lots of women with breast cancer
types of genetic testing?
-Diagnostic Testing
-Predictive Testing
can look for specific faulty genes or rarely sequence whole genome
unregulated cell growth that can invade and spread from primary site around the body =
Cancer
epithelial cell tumours
carcinomas
mesodermal tumour?
sarcoma
glandular cell tumours?
adenocarcinomas
general risk factors for cancer
radiation ageing pollution radon gas diseases e.g. COPD family hx occupation asbestos smoking
causes of lung cancer (5)
smoking, passive smoking, air pollution, asbestos, occupational
2 tests for lung cancer
bronchoscopy and biopsy
2 types of cancer mutations?
germ line
somatic
oncogenes are..
genes that can cause cancer by dysregulating cell division
proto-oncogenes are….
the corresponding normal cellular genes that are responsible for normal cell growth and division
Tumour suppressor genes
Genes in normal cells that suppress uncontrolled cell proliferation, can get loss of function mutations causing cancer
mutation for proto-oncogenes has what dominance?
dominant allele
mutation for tumour suppressor has what dominance?
recessive allele so need 2
why does ageing increase cancer risk?
often need many mutations over time to cause cancer, longer life increases the risk
Hallmarks of Cancer
avoiding destruction unlimited replication Evading growth suppressors tumour promoting inflammation invasion and metastasis reprogramming energy metabolism growth signal autonomy angiogenesis Resisting cell death genomic instability
how do cancer cells avoid immune destruction?
how do cancer cells avoid immune destruction?
hide from immune surveillance e.g. by not replicating
Why can cancer cells replicate forever?
hold onto telomeres so they don’t shorten
how does angiogenesis help tumours?
blood supply needed for growth
why is genomic instability useful for cancers?
the more alterations the more likely cancer is
how does cancer evade cell death?
doesn’t respond to apoptotic signals
how can cancer cells reprogram energy metabolism?
can do glycolysis even if oxygen present
PD-L1 mutation
a mutation which helps cancer evade immune system, present in many cancers
EGFR
epidermal growth factor receptor, can mutate in some cancers
afatinib is..
EGFR inhibitor/tyrosine kinase inhibitor
side effects of afatinib (2)
rashes
paronychia
types of drugs that could combat cancer (4)
glycolysis inhibitors
EGFR inhibitors
telomerase inhibitors
VEGF signal inhibitors
T790M mutation
mutation in EGFR receptors that enables resistance to TKIs