Tumour Markers Flashcards
What is cancer?
Uncontrolled growth/division of cells
What is metastasis?
Possible invasion of surrounding tissues.
What impacts can cancer have on the body i.e to organs, tissues, spaces, hormones?
Disrupt organ function, destroy tissues, obstruct ducts/spaces, ‘ectopic’ hormone production (tumour produces hormones that would normally be produced in another organ).
What is the second most common cause of death after CVD?
Cancer.
What % of people in the UK service for 10+ years after being diagnosed with cancer?
50.
What is the greatest risk factor for getting cancer for many people?
Age.
Which challenge remains a challenge to detect due to its location in the body and what is the 5-year survival rate?
Pancreatic cancer. 7% survival rate.
What is a common staging system to classify (solid) tumours?
TMN (Tumour, Metastasis, Lymph Nodes)
What does ‘staging’ the severity provide details for?
How much cancer, where, predictions for survival, treatment .
In TMN, what does T4 indicate?
Increasing tumour size or depth.
What does T0 indicate in TMN?
Undetectable.
What does TX indicate in TMN?
Cannot be assessed.
What does MX, M0 and M1 indicate in TMN?
Not assessed, no (M0) and yes (M1).
What does NX and N0-N3 indicate in TMN?
NX = not assessed. N0-N3 none to increasing involvement of lymph nodes status.
What stage from I to IV is the least advanced cancer with the best prognosis?
Stage I.
What are the problems of using TMN as a basis for staging solid cancers?
Anatomically based, may require invasive assessment as cancers can be deeply embedded. Does not include new biomarkers e.g. oestrogen receptor and HER2 in breast cancer.
What is herceptin?
Monoclonal Ab that recognises HER2 receptor and kills cells with it.
What is a tumour marker?
Biological marker that can be related to the presence/prognosis of a tumour.
Why are DNA/RNA based markers to identify tumours now being used?
Tumour cells often display genetic diversification.
What are some features of an ideal tumour marker?
Undetectable in health, produced only by malignant disease, specific to site, be obtainable without invasive procedure.
Why do you want an ideal tumour marker to have a ‘short-half life’?
To see if levels fall quickly meaning effective treatment.
What are examples of DNA/RNA markers?
‘Philadelphia’ chromosome, TP53 mutation, HER2/NEU, N-mvc amplification.
What are examples of proteins/ glycoprotiens/ carbohydrates markers?
PSA, CA 125, Monoclonal immunoglobulins, P53 (tumour suppressor). CEA, AFP.
