Cancer Development Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to cancer development.

Cancer

A collection of over 100 diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth that has the potential to invade and spread.

Tumor

An abnormal growth of tissue that can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Benign tumor

A non-cancerous tumor that is usually encapsulated, does not spread, and may cause slight pressure effects on adjacent organs.

Malignant tumor

A cancerous tumor that invades surrounding tissues, metastasizes, and is usually poorly differentiated.

Invasion

The direct extension and penetration of cancer cells into neighboring tissues.

Metastasis

The process of cancer cells spreading from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body.

Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels, often stimulated by tumors to ensure an adequate blood supply.

Tumor markers

Substances secreted by tumors that can be detected in blood, urine, or tissue and used for diagnosis.

HER2

A protein that regulates cell growth; its overexpression is associated with certain types of breast cancer.

p53

A critical tumor suppressor gene that regulates the cell cycle and prevents tumor formation.

BRCA1 and BRCA2

Genes that increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer when mutated.

Warburg Effect

The phenomenon where cancer cells preferentially utilize glycolysis for energy production rather than oxidative phosphorylation.

Caspase

An enzyme family that plays essential roles in programmed cell death (apoptosis) and inflammation.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs)

Macrophages that are recruited to the tumor site and can promote tumor growth and metastasis.

Genome instability

A hallmark of cancer characterized by a high rate of chromosome loss, translocations, and genetic mutations.

Cell death resistance

The ability of cancer cells to evade programmed cell death pathways, resulting in survival despite damage.

Proliferative signaling

The ability of cancer cells to sustain continuous growth and division signals, overriding normal regulatory mechanisms.