CBIO1: Intro to hallmarks of cancer Flashcards Preview

Cancer Biology > CBIO1: Intro to hallmarks of cancer > Flashcards

Flashcards in CBIO1: Intro to hallmarks of cancer Deck (23)
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1
Q

What is cancer?

A

A group of diseases in which cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming a malignant tumour and invading other parts of the body

2
Q

What does malignant tumour mean?

A

Clinically problematic due to their growth, but do not spread to other parts of the body

3
Q

Define Neoplasia

A

abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth

4
Q

Name the movement of cancer cells from their site of origin to a new location

A

metastasis

5
Q

What is a somatic mutation?

A

A mutation that occurs (in any cell of the body) AFTER conception. These are passed on to daughter cells only

6
Q

What is a germline mutation?

A

A mutation that occurs in the germ cells (sperm or egg) and so is passed on to all cells in the body off the offspring, as well as to their offspring

7
Q

Define apoptosis

A

Programmed cell death, a method to eliminate faulty cells

8
Q

Name blood vessel formation

A

Angiogenesis

9
Q

What is a biomarker

A

A molecule which is informative about the presence or extent/stage of a disease

10
Q

What is a biopsy?

A

A small sample of tissue for examination -> to determine presence of seriousness of disease

11
Q

What’s a carcinogen

A

Increases risk of cancer

12
Q

The overall 10-year-survival rate across all cancers in the UK is?

A

50%

13
Q

Most common cancer killer in UK?

A

Lung cancer

14
Q

What % of deaths in UK are from cancer?

A

28%

15
Q

What % of deaths in UK are due to cancer?

A

15%

16
Q

How many genetic alterations need to occur for normal cells to become cancerous?

A

3-7: mutations will vary widely between tumour types and between tumours themselves

17
Q

What mutations lead to a cell to transform into a tumorigenic cell?

A
  • Disabling detection mechanisms
  • Inactivating negative cell cycle regulators
  • Overactivation of positive cell cycle regulators
  • Inactivating genome stability factors
18
Q

What are carcinomas?

A

Most common cancer diagnosis that arises from epithelial cells on the external and internal surfaces of the body.

19
Q

What are the two types of carcinomas and what are they?

A
  • > Adenocarcinoma – e.g. lung, breast, prostate and colon cancer
  • > Squamous cell carcinoma – skin cancer or occurs in top epithelial layer of organs
20
Q

What is a sarcoma?

A

Rarer form of cancer occurring in supporting tissues such as fat, bone, cartilage, connective tissue and muscle.

21
Q

What is a lymphoma

A

Have to do with white blood cells. Most common cancers in children and young adults

22
Q

What are the two sub-categories for lymphomas?

A
  • Hodgkin’s lymphoma – Reed-Sternberg cells are abnormal lymphocytes which contain multiple nuclei.
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
    B-cell lymphoma
    T-cell lymphoma
23
Q

What are myelomas?

A

These also arise in the immune system but from antibody-producing cells (plasma cells)