Upgrade to remove ads
Only $2.99/month

Pathophysiology Ch 10: Biology of Cancer

Terms in this set (79)

Disease in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues Derived from greek work for crab karkinoma.
Cancer
originally referred to as any swelling that is caused by inflammation. also referred to as neoplasm.
tumor
Neoplasm
New growth (tumor)
Benign tumor characteristics
Grow slowly
Capsule
Non-invasive
Well differentiated
Low mitotic index
Do not metastasize
Benign tumors:
lipoma=
fat cells
benign tumors:
Leiomyoma-
smooth muscle of the uterus
Benign tumor:
Meninigioma-
membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord
Malignant tumor characteristics
Grow rapidly
Not encapsulated
Invasive
Poorly differentiated
High mitotic index
Can spread distantly
Malignant:
Carcinoma
epithelial tissue
Malignant:
Adenocarcinoma
ductal or glandular tissue
Malignant:
Sarcoma
mesenchymal tissue
Pre-invasive epithelia malignant tumors of glandular origin that have not broken through the basement membrane
Carcinoma in situ (CIS)
Malignant:
Lymphoma
lymphatic tissue
Malignant:
Leukemia
blood-forming cells
What does cancer refer to?
A malignant tumor
What is required before cancer can develop?
Multiple mutations
Normal genes that direct protein synthesis and cellular growth
Proto-oncogenes
a gene that in certain circumstances can transform a cell into a tumor cell. Mutant genes
Oncogenes
Point mutation in RAS gene converts from regulated to unregulated
Oncogene activation
Genes that encode proteins that in their normal state negatively regulate proliferation also referred to as anti oncogenes.
Tumor-suppressor genes
What allows for unregulated cellular growth?
Mutation of tumor-suppressor genes
is a GTPase that converts GTP to GDP, thus activating signaling pathways that transcription of the cell cycle regulators and enhance into cellular proliferation.
RAS
a prototypical tumor suppresser gene, when mutated, persistent cell growth occurs.
Retinoblastoma (RB)
Encode for proteins that are involved in repairing damaged DNA
Caretaker genes
Increased tendency for genomic mutations during life cycle of the cell. Risk for cancer increases.
Genomic instability
Chromosome instability results in an increase in...
malignant cells
Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2
Breast cancer 1 and 2
what percentage of women develop breast cancer
12%
What percent of women with BRCA1 mutation develop cancer by 70
60%
What percent of women with BRCA2 mutation develop cancer by 70
45%
Are protective caps on each chromosome and are held in place by telomerase
telomeres
Cancer cells can activate telomerase causing...
unlimited division and proliferation
Growth of new vessels( an important component of wound healing)
Angiogenesis
Warburg effect
Use of glycolysis under normal oxygen conditions allowing for products of glycolysis to be used for rapid cell growth. activated by oncogenes and mutant tumor suppressors.
Important factor in the development of cancer
Chronic inflammation (cytokine release from inflammatory cells)
Programmed cell death
SElf destruction.
Apoptosis
defects in what provide resistance to apoptotic cell death?
intrinsic and extrinsic pathways
A bacterium that infects more than half of the worlds population, causes chronic inflammation associated with:
Peptic ulcer disease
stomach carcinoma
mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas.
Helicobacter pylori
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
10x
Large numbers in some tumors. Key cells that promote tumor survival.
Tumor-associated macrophages(TAM)
What protects against cancer?
Normal immune system.
What fosters cancer
immunosuppression
Kaposi sarcoma
1000x
Implicated viruses causing cancer
Hep B and C
Epstein-Barr virus
Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus
HPV
Human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus
When does metastasis occur during cancer progression?
late
Spread of cancer from a primary site of origin to a distant site. Direct invasion of contiguous organs, known as local spread.
metastasis
How do metastases spread?
Through vascular and lymphatic pathways
Model for transition to metastatic cancer cells. Epithelial characteristics lost.
(EMT) Epithelial- mesenchymal transition
Breast cancer spreads to...
bones
Lymphomas spread to...
spleen
What is pain influenced by in early stages of cancer?
Fear
Anxiety
Sleep loss
Fatigue
Most frequently reported symptom of cancer
Fatigue
A cellular quiescence, a stable, non proliferative state that is reversible.
2/3 of breast cancer deaths occur 5 years of being disease free
Dormancy of metastases
Mechanisms of anemia
Chronic bleeding
Iron deficiency
Severe malnutrition
Malignancy in blood-forming organs
Weakness and wasting of the body. Most severe form of malnutrition. includes: anorexia , early satiety, weight loss. anemia, and altered protein, lipid, and carb metabolism.
cachexia
What causes leukopenia and thrombocytopenia?
Direct tumor invasion to the bone marrow
A decrease of hemoglobin in the blood.
Anemia
What is toxic to the bone marrow?
Chemotherapy drugs
Hair and skin manifestations from cancer
Alopecia from chemotherapy
Skin breakdown/dryness
GI manifestations from cancer
Oral ulcers
Malabsorption
Diarrhea
Nausea
Stage 1 Cancer
No metastasis
Stage 2 Cancer
Local invasion
Stage 3 Cancer
Spread to regional structures
Stage 4 Cancer
Distant metastasis
TNM system
T: Tumor spread
N: Node involvement
M: Presence of distant metastasis
A patient has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bone. Stage of cancer?
Stage 4
What are tumor markers used for?
Screen for cancer risk
Diagnose types of tumors
What are tumors classified based on?
immmunohistochemical analysis of protein expression
substances produced by cancer cells that are found on or in tumor cells, in the blood, CSF or urine.
Hormones
Enzymes
Genes
Antigens
Antibodies
Tumor markers
Radiation goal
Eradicate cancer without excessive toxicity
Avoid damage to normal structures
Chemotherapy for shrinkage or disappearance of tumors
Induction chemotherapy
Surgery is used to treat cancer by:
Preventing it (colon polyps)
Biopsy for diagnosing and staging
Lymph node sampling
Chemotherapy to eliminate micrometastasis after surgery
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Chemotherapy given before localized treatment to shrink tumor
Neoadjuvant therapy
What is used in combination with chemotherapy?
Targeted disruption
Absence of differentiation
Anaplastic
Serum marker to evaluate a tumor of the adrenal gland
Catecholamines
Process whereby tumor cells generate their own blood supply
Angiogenesis
Increased tendency for genome alterations and mutability during cell life cycles
Genomic instability
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...