topic 4.1 Flashcards
define cancer
a generic term describing any condition where abnormal cells divide and invade other tissues
the process of new, but abnormal cellular growth. this term can refer to benign or malignant
neoplasm
generic term for any growth, swelling or neoplasm
tumour
study of malignant tumours
oncology
a suffix which means benign tumour
‘_oma’
a gene that controls normal cell growth and proliferation
proto-oncogene
a mutated gene which after mutating can contribute to abnormal cell growth (neoplasm)
oncogene
a tumour that is very invasive and tends to spread
malignant
malignancy of epithelial tissue
carcinoma
malignancy of connective tissue
sarcoma
generic term referring to inability of a tumour to metastasise
benign
the spread of cancerous cells from a primary tumour to a distant region
metastasise
a prefix, meaning arising from glandular tissue
‘adeno_’
the development of new capillaries in the tumour
angiogenesis
any substance that has the potential to carcinogenesis
carcinogen
the process of initiating cancer
carcinogenesis
an examination of tissue removed from living body to discover the presence, cause or extent of neoplasm
biopsy
the state of absence of disease activity in patients known to have a chronic illness that cannot be cured. commonly used to refer to absence of active cancer
remission
sever tissue wasting
cachexia
what is the cell cycle?
the process of cell division that allows body to grow and repair
what is mitosis?
the process of dividing the duplicated DNA of a cell into two new nuclei
name and explain the first stage of mitosis
prophase: the DNA condenses into visible chromosomes (the classic chromosome structure), and the nucleolus disappears
name and explain the second stage of mitosis
prometaphase: microtubules attach to the chromosomes at the kinetochore
name and explain the third stage of mitosis
metaphase: sister chromatids align at the centre of the cell so both chromatids face toward opposite poles of the cell
name and explain the fourth stage of mitosis
anaphase: chromosomes separate. the microtubules attached to kinetochores shorten which pulls chromatids apart
name and explain the fifth stage of mitosis
telophase: nuclear membranes reappear around the two sets of chromosomes, the components of new cells begin to appear, the chromosomes uncoil and return to their uncondensed state
what is cytokinesis?
the formation of two new cells following mitosis
explain the process of cytokinesis
the cell is compressed by a contractile ring which divides the cell into nearly equal halves. the organelles in the cell are replicated and divided between the two halves. once split, the two new cells are fully in the G1 stage of interphase and ready to begin growth
explain the process and stages of interphase
- G1/gap 1: first growth stage, cell grows to nearly full size
- S/synthesis phase: DNA in nucleus replicated
- G2/gap 2: cell finishes growing
what occurs after a mutation to proto-oncogenes?
after mutation, these genes are called oncogenes and they gain function, thus they push the cell towards more and unregulated growth
what occurs following a mutation to tumour suppressor genes?
mutations to tumour suppressor genes can cause loss of function, causing the cell to lose its ability to repair DNA or induce apoptosis, thus defective cells are able to freely reproduce
what are the 8 stages of carcinogenesis?
- oncogene
- mutate inhibition
- DNA regulator/fixer turned off
- apoptosis mutated (cell now immortal)
- telomerase mutated
- angiogenesis
- de-differentiation (no longer looks like neighbouring cell and cell is no longer benign)
- not recognisable (not recognised by immune system as being abnormal/problematic
what are the two classifications of non-melanoma skin cancer?
- basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
- squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
what are the two types of skin cancer?
non-melanoma and melanoma
