Lecture 10: Hallmarks of Cancer

Question 1

What are the basic principles of cancer?

Answer 1

• Changes in genetic material underpin cancer initiation & development
  Eg. Oncogenes & Tumor Suppressor Genes
• Cancer cell surroundings influence cancer development & progression (Tumor microenvironment)
• Development of cancer is a process that can occur over many years
  Further genetic & cellular changes
  -Metastatic disease (most advanced stage) accounts for majority of deaths

Question 2

What is the difference between solid malignancies and hematologic malignancies?

Answer 2

• Solid malignancies: an abnormal mass of tissue that usually does not contain cysts or liquid areas.
• Hematologic malignancies: cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes.
  e. g. various types of leukemia

Question 3

What are some cancer risk factors?

Answer 3

• Radiation, alcohol, family history

Question 4

What is the suffix for benign tumors and the suffix for malignant tumors?

Answer 4

• Benign: -oma-, e.g. adenoma

- Malignant: -carcinoma- or -sarcoma-, e.g. adenocarcinoma