Biology of Cancer Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the Biology of Cancer lecture notes.

Cancer

Diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues.

Neoplasm

New growth, another term to describe a tumor.

Benign Tumors

Grow slowly, encapsulated, not invasive, well differentiated, low mitotic index, do not metastasize.

Malignant Tumors

Grow rapidly, not encapsulated, invasive, poorly differentiated, high mitotic index, can spread distantly (metastasize).

Benign Tumors (Naming)

Named according to the tissues from which they arise (e.g., Lipoma, Leiomyoma, Meningioma); may progress to cancer.

Malignant Tumors (Naming)

Named according to the cell type from which they arise (e.g., Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Sarcoma, Lymphoma, Leukemia).

Carcinoma in Situ

Early-stage cancers that have not broken through the basement membrane or invaded the surrounding stroma; may remain stable, progress, or regress.

Proto-oncogenes

Genes that direct normal cellular proliferation.

Oncogenes

Mutated or overexpressed proto-oncogenes that cause uncontrolled cell growth.

Autocrine stimulation

Ability of cancer cells to secrete growth factors that stimulate their own growth.

Tumor-suppressor genes

Regulate cell cycle, inhibit proliferation, stop cell divisions if cells are damaged, prevent mutations.

Caretaker genes

Encode for proteins that are involved in repairing damaged DNA; mutations increase genomic instability.

Telomeres

Protective caps on each chromosome, maintained by telomerase, that block cell division and prevent immortality.

Angiogenesis

Growth of new blood vessels, essential to growth and spread of cancer.

Warburg effect

Use of glycolysis under normal oxygen conditions, allowing products to be used for rapid cell growth.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)

Key cells that promote tumor survival; their presence frequently correlates with a worse prognosis.

Immune surveillance hypothesis

Predicts developing malignancies are suppressed by efficient immune response.

Metastasis

Spread of cancer from a primary site of origin to a distant site.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Model for transition to metastatic cancer cells involving loss of epithelial characteristics.

Paraneoplastic syndromes

Symptom complexes triggered by cancer, not caused by direct local effects of tumor.

Cachexia

Multiorgan, energy wasting syndrome; most severe form of malnutrition.

Tumor Markers

Substances produced by cancer cells that are found on or in tumor cells, in the blood, CSF, or urine.

Radiation Goals

Eradicate cancer without excessive toxicity and avoid damage to normal structures

Induction chemotherapy

For shrinkage or disappearance of tumors.

Adjuvant chemotherapy

Eliminate micrometastasis after surgery.

Neoadjuvant therapy

Given before localized treatment to shrink tumor.