Topic 2- Uncontrolled cell division and cancer Flashcards
What is cancer caused by?
Uncontrolled mitosis
How are tumors (an irregular mass of cells)formed ?
Cancerous cells divide repeatedly and uncontrollably
What causes Uncontrolled mitosis?
A mutation in the genes that control cell division
What is an onccogene?
A mutated gene that causes cancer
What do most cell mutations result in?
-Early cell death
-Cell destroyed by the bodies immune system
What are carcoarcinogens?
any agents that may cause cancer (eg. UV light, tar in tobacco smoke and X-rays)
How is the formation of benign tumors different to maligment tumors?
They do not spread from their original site so do not cause cancer
Do malignant tumours spread through the body, invading and destroying other tissues?
Yes
Describe what happens in metastasis (spreading of cancer)
-interfere with the normal functioning of the organ / tissue in which they have started to grow
-can break off the tumour and travel through the blood and / or lymphatic system to form secondary growths in other parts of the body
Almost half of all people with cancer possess a mutated 1.____ gene- this is a gene that helps to control cell growth
1.p53
Where is there no single effective treatment for individuals suffering from cancer?
many other reasons why the control of cell division deteriorates (other than a mutated p53 gene)
What are the current treatments/drugs that work by controlling the rate of mitosis?
-Methotrexate - inhibits the synthesis of DNA nucleotides in cells
-Vincristine and taxol - prevent the formation of the mitotic spindle
