Oncology Princples Flashcards
(30 cards)
What are the three broad classifications of genetic mutations causing cancer?
Tumour Supressor
Proto- Oncogenes
DNA Repair
What are tumour supressor genes?
Help reduce division of cells
Both need to be inactivated (recessive) can be germ line or acquired
E.g., P53 (involved in cell cycle regulation and maintains integrity)
What are proto-onco genes?
Functions become enhanced in carcinogenesis
Usually encodes growth factors, growth factor receptors and transcription factors
Only requires one mutation
Eg RAS (encodes GProtein for cellular signal transduction)
What are mutations of DNA repair?
Mutation of these accelerate mutations of tumour supressor and proto-oncogenes
Eg ATM gene (detects DNA damage, produces syndrome of ataxia telangiectasia)
What are BRCA1/2 genes?
Tumour Supressor genes
Carriers have a 55-85% lifetime risk
40% increase of Ovarian with BRCA1
Increased incidence of male breast/prostate/pancreas
What is the RB1 gene?
On chromosome 13 encoding a tumour Supressor gene
If both alleles are inactivated - Retinoblastoma
What is the APC gene?
Tumour Supressor on chromosome 5
Associated with FAP
What is the most important known carcinogen?
Smoking
Responsible for 90% of lung cancers
Synergistic effect on neoplasms caused by other things (e.g. alcohol)
Name four cancers that alcohol is particularly implicated in
H and N
Oesophageal (particularly squamous)
Breast Cancer
HCC
Diet can have a massive impact on the occurrence of Cancer. Give four cancers particularly related to obesity.
Endometrial
Post Menopausal Breast Cancer
Oesophageal Cancer
Colorectal
How can Colon Cancer risk be reduced with diet?
High volumes of veg and fibre
What is the relation of Salt Fish in terms of cancer?
Increased incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer
What is the relation of Aflatoxin (found in corn, nuts, soybeans) and Cancer
Increased incidence of HCC
Viral infections play a significant role in initiating carcinogenesis but do require other factors. Name three carcinogenic viral infections
HPV
Hep B and Hep C
EBV
What two malignancies is EBV most associated with?
Hodgekins and burkitts lymphoma
Name a carcinogenic bacterial infection
H.pylori
- gastric adenocarcinoma and a role in developing gastric lymphoma
Name a carcinogenic parasitic infection
Schistosoma haematobium
Name Three industrial exposures and their associated cancers
Wood dust and formaldehyde = cancer of nasal cavity, nasopharynx and leukaemia
Asbestos = lung, ovary and mesothelioma
Silica = lung
What is neurofibromatoses
Increased neural tumours
How does neurofibromatoses present (3)
Birth/early childhood
Multiple brown spots concentrated
Enlargement and deformity of bones and curvature
Six hallmarks of cancer?
- Sustaining proliferative signalling
- Evading growth suppressors
- Enabling replication immortality
- Activating invasion and metastasis
- Inducing angiogenesis
- Resisting cell death
Define tumour
Swelling of the part of the body without inflammation, caused by an abnormal growth or tissue (benign or malignant)
What is a benign growth?
Non-cancerous growth
Malignant growth?
Cancerous growth
