ATS GCSE Biology - Cancer Key words

• cancer cells


  divide more rapidly and live longer than normal cells

  
• HPV


  virus which can cause cervical cancer in humans

  
• tumour

  a mass of abnormally growing cells

  
• monoclonal antibodies


  used to deliver radiation or toxic drugsNOTE: Biology options group only - see infection and response unit
• chemotherapy


  chemicals used to stop cancer cells dividing or to make them self destruct

  
• radiotherapy


  radiation used to kill cancer cellsstops mitosis in cancer cells but can also damage healthy cells

  
• cancer treatment

  radiotherapychemotherapymonoclonal antibodies

  
• genetic risk

  some people have a genetic risk to cancers e.g. early breast cancer & ovarian cancer

  
• secondary tumours


  tumours that form in a different location from the original tumour

  
• malignant tumour cells


  cancerinvade neighbouring tissues spread to different parts of the body via the bloodstreamsecondary tumours formed

  
• dangers of benign tumours


  tumours can grow very large, very quicklyif it causes pressure or damage to an organ can be life threatening

  
• benign tumour


  growths of abnormal cellscontained in one area usually within a membranedo NOT invade other parts of the body

  
• cancer


  changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled growth and division of cells

  
• scatter diagram


  used to identify a correlation between two variables in terms of risk factors

  
• interaction of factors


  many diseases are caused by the interaction of a number of factors

  
• mutation


  change in DNAcould lead to cancer

  
• ionising radiation


  radiation penetrates cells and damages chromosomes resulting in a mutation in the DNA increase exposure increases the risksources- ultraviolet light (from Sun) → Skin cancer (melanoma)- x-rays (medical and dental)- nuclear power accidents (e.g. Chernobyl)- materials in soil, water & air (e.g. radon gas in granite-rich areas in Cornwall and Pennines)

  
• melanoma


  skin cancer caused by exposure to UV light

  
• carcinogens

  ionising radiation (UV light & X-rays)tar in cigarette smokealcohol asbestos