Cancer

What are tumor markers?

Biological markers produced and released by cancer cells used to screen & identify, diagnose and observe.

What are malignant epithelial tumors called?

Carcinomas

What is chronic inflammation associate with?

Cytokine release from inflammatory cells, free radicals, mutation promotion, decreased response to DNA damage.

What is chemotherapy?

Drug treatment that tries to target cancer cells to eliminate enough so that they body can fight back.

What are clinical manifestations of cancer?

Fatigue- *Trigger sign Infection Pain Leukopenia/thrombocytopenia Anemia Paraneoplastic syndromes Cachexia-extreme weight loss

What are the characteristics of a malignant tumor?

Grow rapid, not encapsulated, invasive, poorly differentiated, high mitotic index, CAN SPREAD DISTANTLY.

What are the characteristics of a benign tumor?

Grow slow, well-defined capsule, not invasive, well differentiated, low mitotic index, DO NOT METASTASIZE!

What is angiogenesis?

Growth of new blood vessels, advanced cancer can secrete angiogenic factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)

What is local spread?

Invasion damage to surrounding areas by cellular multiplication.

What are cancers of blood-forming cells called?

Leukemias

What are cancers of lymphatic tissue called?

Lymphomas

What are some cancer prone risk factors?

Mutagen exposure, genetic events but NOT inherited, mutations in tumor-suppressant genes.

What are oncogenes?

Mutant genes (BAD!) that stimulate protein synthesis and cellular growth.

What role do oncogenes play in mutation?

Once oncogenes are activated the cell can then become cancerous.

What are chronic infections associated with?

Peptic ulcer disease, stomach carcinoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas.

What are malignant connective tissue tumors called?

Sarcomas

What are the hallmarks of cancer?

Self sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity to antigrowth signals, evading apoptosis, limitless replicative potential, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion and metastasis.

What are other types of cancer treatment?

Surgery- 1st choice if possible Hormone therapy Immunotherapy

What does carcinoma in situ mean?

That there are preinvasive malignant tumors that have not yet broken through the basement membrane or invaded surrounding stroma.

What are environmental risk factors for cancer?

Tobacco Sexual activity ionizing radiation Physical activity UV radiation Occupational hazards Alcohol Diet: obesity

What is metastasis?

Tumor spread from primary site to a distant site by way of implantation: extension, penetration, transport, entry and growth.

What is radiation?

Using poison to get rid of as much of the cancer as possible without poisoning the body.

What is a neoplasm?

A new growth--not always cancerous.

How are benign tumors named?

According to the tissue they arrive from and have suffix "-oma" ex: lipoma, giloma, leiomyoma, chondroma

Cancer is predominantly a disease of what?

Aging.

What are tumor-suppressor genes?

(GOOD!) Encode proteins that negatively regulate proliferation. AKA anti-oncogenes