Cancer
What is cancer? - A group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled and
unregulated growth of cells
Carcinoma - Begins in skin of tissues that line or cover internal organs
sarcoma - begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or
supportive tissue
leukemia - starts in blood-forming tissue such as bone marrow
lymphoma and myeloma - begin in cells of the immune system
CNS cancers - begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord
What are the preventable causes of cancer? - tabacco, nutrition, UV radiation, infectious
exposure
What are the characteristics of normal cell growth? - regulated, predetermined to
differentiate into specific cell types, controlled cell death and proliferation, contact
inhibition, cell surface adherence, inability to wander
What are the characteristics of cancer cell growth? - defect in differentiation, secrete
enzymes to dissolve binding protein(no cell surface adherence), uncontrolled
proliferation, doubling time, loss of cell borders, ability to form new blood vessels, ability
to free from tissue or tumor of origin, escape immune surveillance, lack of programmed
cell death
What are the genetic influences associated with cancer? - Mutations, Oncogenes,
tumor-suppressor genes
Mutations - permanent change in DNA nucleotide sequence, arise spontaneously or
from a mutagen
oncogenes - Inappropriately active versions of proto-oncogenes, code for proteins that
induce malignant growth by turning on cell division-polypeptides influence cell growth
tumor-suppressor genes - code for proteins to turn off cell growth- loss of function,
recessive
What are the 3 stages of carcinogenesis? - Initiation, promotion, progression
Initiation - Malignant transformation causing mutation of DNA-inherited mutation during
DNA replication, exposure to chemical, radiation, or virus, cancer related genes
, Promotion - secondary effect of an agent, alone may not be able to produce
malignancy, some initiators may act as own promoters(cigarette tar), activities of
promoters is reversible
Progression - final stage, increased growth rate of tumor, increased invasiveness,
detectable mass=1cm and 1billion cells
Metastasis - Angiogensis(migration and proliferation of endothelial cells), invasion,
transport, immunogenicity(tumor cells illicit a immune response), arrest(fibrin meshwork
protection from host's immune cells, establishment of secondary tumor
Cancer Classification categories - Histologic, extent of disease, tumor markers
Histological analysis classification - appearance and degree of differentiation, grading:
GX-G4
extent of disease classification - based on spread of disease, staging: TNM
classification system, staging 0-4
Tumor markers - proteins and antigens, monitor for recurrence: CEA-colon, CA 125-
ovarian, Ca15-3 breast, Ca19-9 pancreatic, PSA- prostate
Stage I of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - The cancer is found only in a single lymph node
region OR one organ or area outside of the lymph node
Stage II of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - the cnacer is found in two or more lymph nodes
on one side of the diaphragm
Stage III of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - the disease involves lymph nodes both above
and below the diaphragm
Stage IV of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - the lymphoma has advanced beyond the lymph
nodes and spleen AND has spread to one or more organs such as bone marrow, skin,
or liver
Histological Classification: Grade I - cells differ slightly from normal cells
Histological Classification: Grade II - cells are abnormal, moderately differentiated
Histological Classification: Grade III - cells are very abnormal, moderately differentiated
Histological Classification: Grade IV - cells are immature and primitive, origin of cells
difficult to determine
What are the goals of cancer treatment? - cure, control, palliation
What is cancer? - A group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled and
unregulated growth of cells
Carcinoma - Begins in skin of tissues that line or cover internal organs
sarcoma - begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or
supportive tissue
leukemia - starts in blood-forming tissue such as bone marrow
lymphoma and myeloma - begin in cells of the immune system
CNS cancers - begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord
What are the preventable causes of cancer? - tabacco, nutrition, UV radiation, infectious
exposure
What are the characteristics of normal cell growth? - regulated, predetermined to
differentiate into specific cell types, controlled cell death and proliferation, contact
inhibition, cell surface adherence, inability to wander
What are the characteristics of cancer cell growth? - defect in differentiation, secrete
enzymes to dissolve binding protein(no cell surface adherence), uncontrolled
proliferation, doubling time, loss of cell borders, ability to form new blood vessels, ability
to free from tissue or tumor of origin, escape immune surveillance, lack of programmed
cell death
What are the genetic influences associated with cancer? - Mutations, Oncogenes,
tumor-suppressor genes
Mutations - permanent change in DNA nucleotide sequence, arise spontaneously or
from a mutagen
oncogenes - Inappropriately active versions of proto-oncogenes, code for proteins that
induce malignant growth by turning on cell division-polypeptides influence cell growth
tumor-suppressor genes - code for proteins to turn off cell growth- loss of function,
recessive
What are the 3 stages of carcinogenesis? - Initiation, promotion, progression
Initiation - Malignant transformation causing mutation of DNA-inherited mutation during
DNA replication, exposure to chemical, radiation, or virus, cancer related genes
, Promotion - secondary effect of an agent, alone may not be able to produce
malignancy, some initiators may act as own promoters(cigarette tar), activities of
promoters is reversible
Progression - final stage, increased growth rate of tumor, increased invasiveness,
detectable mass=1cm and 1billion cells
Metastasis - Angiogensis(migration and proliferation of endothelial cells), invasion,
transport, immunogenicity(tumor cells illicit a immune response), arrest(fibrin meshwork
protection from host's immune cells, establishment of secondary tumor
Cancer Classification categories - Histologic, extent of disease, tumor markers
Histological analysis classification - appearance and degree of differentiation, grading:
GX-G4
extent of disease classification - based on spread of disease, staging: TNM
classification system, staging 0-4
Tumor markers - proteins and antigens, monitor for recurrence: CEA-colon, CA 125-
ovarian, Ca15-3 breast, Ca19-9 pancreatic, PSA- prostate
Stage I of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - The cancer is found only in a single lymph node
region OR one organ or area outside of the lymph node
Stage II of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - the cnacer is found in two or more lymph nodes
on one side of the diaphragm
Stage III of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - the disease involves lymph nodes both above
and below the diaphragm
Stage IV of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - the lymphoma has advanced beyond the lymph
nodes and spleen AND has spread to one or more organs such as bone marrow, skin,
or liver
Histological Classification: Grade I - cells differ slightly from normal cells
Histological Classification: Grade II - cells are abnormal, moderately differentiated
Histological Classification: Grade III - cells are very abnormal, moderately differentiated
Histological Classification: Grade IV - cells are immature and primitive, origin of cells
difficult to determine
What are the goals of cancer treatment? - cure, control, palliation
