Carcinogenesis

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  • Created by: evepoag
  • Created on: 28-09-22 17:30
What is a cancer and
what is it characterised by?
A group of diseases characterised by uncontrolled cell growth, and spread of cells from site of origin to other locations
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What is apoptosis?
The ability of a cell to undergo programmed cell death
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What is angiogenesis in cancer?
The growth of new vessels in the blood that help a tumour to survive and grow
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What is metastasis?
The ability of cancer cells to grow and spread beyond tissue of origin
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To treat a disease, what must you do first?
Find the SOURCE
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For a cell to function, what do they depend on?
Proteins to do their jobs in the right place at the right time
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What is a mutation?
changes in the DNA sequence which sometimes prevent a protein working properly
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Mutations occur in every cell. What does the normal cell do?
recognises it and repairs in before its passed on
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What happens when a gene is switched ON?
the gene tells the cell to make a specific protein and this protein tells the cell what to do
=
protein are formed
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What happens if there is a faulty gene?
the correct protein won't be formed because the cell got the wrong signal
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In uncontrolled cell growth, caused by mutations (changes in the DNA of a cell), a mass can form. what is this called?
A tumour
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What is mitosis?
Mitosis is a fundamental process controlled by genes
A cell duplicates, splitting into 2 identical daughter cells
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During the cell's "interphase", what happens at the end of each phase?
checkpoints that assess for DNA damage (mutations)
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Does cancer arise from a singular mutation or an accumulation of mutations?
Accumulation of mutations
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What are the 3 gene classes affected by cancerous mutations?
1. Oncogenes
2. Tumour suppressor genes
3. DNA repair genes
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Most mutated cells are harmless. When are they dangerous?
When a mutated cell replicates and spreads the mutation, causing neoplastic risk
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What is a neoplastic risk?
Risk factor that aid in tumour growth
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What are the 2 types of neoplastic risks?
1. mutations that allow cells to grow in number uncontrollably
2. avoid apoptosis (cell death)
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When a normal basal cells divides, 1 remains in the basal cell layer, the other migrates. What ability does the migrated basal cell lose?
the capacity to divide
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Describe cancerous cell growth with reference to the basal layer
Basal cells divide faster than needed to replenish cells being shed through the epidermis.
These new split basal cuts can ALSO continue to divide, increasing the total number of dividing cells
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What is hyperplasia?
Increased number of dividing cells
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What is mild dysplasia?
Pre-cancerous cells
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What is sever dysplasia?
Beginning of cancer
- cells grow rapidly
- localised
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What is carcinogenesis?
process of normal cells transforming into cancer cells
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What are the 4 stages of carcinogenesis?
1. Initiation = spontaneous mutation in gene
2. Promotion = selective growth
3. Progression = further mutations confer selective growth advantage
4. Metastatic spread = cancer cells travel to distant sites in the body
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What is a carcinogen?
A cancer-causing agent/chemical
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What are two common carcinogenic viruses?
HPV and EBV
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What other factors cause cancer?
- Genetics
- Enivornment
- Lifestyle
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Why are you more at risk of cancer the older you get?
Usually cancer requires a number of mutations, so your chances increase the more time there is for mutations to form

Increased exposure to factors, eg: smoking
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What is a benign tumour?
A non-dangerous tumour that doesn't spread and grows as a single mass
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When can a benign tumour be dangerous?
In the brain
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What is malignant tumour?
Differs in appearance from parent cells
and grows more rapidly
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What is a carcinoma?
Arises from epithelial tissue in cells that cover or line external and internal body surfaces/organs
eg: lung, breast, colon
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What is a sarcoma?
Arises from connective tissue
Found in cells of supportive tissues of the body
eg: bone, fat, cartilage, muscle
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What is lymphoma?
Arises in the lymph nodes and tissues of body's immune system
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What is leukaemia?
Cancers of the immature blood cells that grow in the bone marrow
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Name 5 cancer treatments
1. surgery
2. radiotherapy
3. chemotherapy
4. hormone therapy
5. biological treatments
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Which cancer treatment is ideal, but not always possible?
Surgery
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What protein speeds up the rate of chemical reactions?
Enzymes
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What is it called when a doctor takes a sample of cells that may be cancerous and look at them under a microscope?
A biopsy
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What organ digests proteins?
Stomach
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What is a serious form of skin cancer, usually associated with exposure to UV light?
Melanoma
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What stage of mitosis follows the prophase?
Metaphase
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is apoptosis?

Back

The ability of a cell to undergo programmed cell death

Card 3

Front

What is angiogenesis in cancer?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is metastasis?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

To treat a disease, what must you do first?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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