Cancer Overview and Carcinogenesis Quiz

Cancer Overview and Carcinogenesis

• Tumor nomenclature is based on lineage of differentiation and whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
• Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in both adults and children.
• The most common cancers by incidence in adults are breast/prostate, lung, and colorectal.
• The leading causes of cancer mortality in adults are lung, breast/prostate, and colorectal.
• Cancer begins as a single mutated cell and approximately 30 divisions occur before the earliest clinical symptoms arise.
• The goal of screening is to catch dysplasia before it becomes carcinoma or carcinoma before clinical symptoms arise.
• Carcinogens are agents that damage DNA, increasing the risk for cancer.
• DNA mutations eventually disrupt key regulatory systems, allowing for tumor promotion and progression.
• Proto-oncogenes are essential for cell growth and differentiation; mutations of proto-oncogenes form oncogenes that lead to unregulated cellular growth.
• Categories of oncogenes include growth factors, growth factor receptors, signal transducers, nuclear regulators, and cell cycle regulators.
• Common carcinogenic agents include chemicals, oncogenic viruses, and radiation.
• Specific examples of carcinogenic agents and associated cancers are provided.