Cancer Biology Terms

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nada

Cards (96)

hyperplasia 
cells are similar in shape and function
dysplasia 
changes in cells morphology, can be seen through a microscope
extracorporeal radiotherapy 
infected area is resected and irradiated outside of the body, then replaced. over time, the irradiated area fuses with normal bone and metal supports can be removed
proliferation 
how quickly the cancerous cell copies its DNA and divides into 2 cells
metastasis 
the tumour's ability to migrate via blood or lymph vessels
chronic  
slow
acute  
fast
carcinoma 
most common type of cancer. most develop in organs or glands. derives from either epithelium or endothelium. can metasise via blood or lymph
sarcoma 
most rare type of cancer. most common in children. derived from mesoderm. usually metasise via blood
leukaemia -haemopoietic cancer
begins in bone marrow. derived from immature myeloid or lymphoic cells.
lymphoma- haemopoietic cancers
commence in lymph nodes. spleen, tonsils or thymus
CT scan (computerised tomography) 
fine streams of x-rays from many angles, visualise anatomical details within 'slice'. - produce 3d images
MRI (scan) Magnetic resonance imaging  
detects density of protons, when 'relaxed', protons emit radiation: detected and measured. relatively safe - no ionising radiation
PET scan (positron emission tomography) 
images tissue function (not density). detects radiation given off by sugar
lung cancer 
tumours reduce gas exchange, either directly or through haemorrhage
leukaemia 
fewer red blood cells, altering the production of platelets and blood cells (haemopoiesis) - anaemia
gastrointestinal cancers 
can perforate intestinal wall, may enable access to bloodstream or organs by food microbes
cachexia 
metabolic syndrome characterized by muscle mass loss with or without fat mass loss
cause of most deaths 
metastasis
brain tumour 
headache due to compression of neurons and vessels
stomach cancer  
malnutrition due to reduced breakdown of food
epidemiology 
the study of occurrence and determinants of health and disease in population
mortality 
number of deaths
cancers with worst prognosis
mesothelioma 2. other digestive organs 3. pancreas 4. unknown primary site 5. lung
cancer accounts for the high total burden of disease in Australia
cause of cancer 
inheritence, environment, mutations in dividing stem cells
summary of trend in cancer incidence, per 100,000 
slightly increased
summary of trend in cancer mortality, per 100,000 
slightly decreased
Randomised controlled trials 
experiments where people are randomly put into groups to test treatments. pros: good for proving cause and effect, less bias. cons: can be expensive, not always ethical
prospective design
individuals are followed over time and data about them is collected as their characteristics or circumstances change - no issue of recall bias
retrospective design
individuals are sampled and information is collected about their past - possible substantial recall bias, systematic error that occurs when participants do not remember previous events or experiences accurately
confounders 
a variable that influences both the dependent variable and independent variable
relative risk
if its 1, no difference. Above 1 means higher risk, below 1 means lower risk
confidence intervals
if it includes 1, not a big difference. If it doesn’t, there’s likely a significant difference
cut - surgery
burn - radiotherapy
posion - chemotherapy
metastasis process 
tumour cells become motile, secreting proteases that degrade extracellular matrix
invade surrounding tissue
force through gaps between lining blood or lymph vessels
force out through gaps between cells
degrade extracellular matrix in new site
enter new tissue and start proliferating
invadopodia 
degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) and enable entry into vessels - secrete proteases
total body irradiation 
radiation given to entire body, used with high dose anticancer drugs - patients with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma