Transcript Document
Cancer – Causes and
Classification
Dean Bradley
Who am I?
• 1987-1989-Student Pharmacy Technician
• BTec National Certificate in Science (pharmaceutical)
• 1989-1994-Rotational Pharmacy Technician
• 1994-1997-Senior Pharmacy Technician
Aseptic/Cytotoxic Production
• 1997-2008-Senior Pharmacy Technician Chemotherapy
Day Unit
• 2002-Chartered Management Institute-Diploma in Management
• 2006-Postgraduate Award in Clinical Oncology
• 2008-Now-Quality Manager for Haematopoietic Stem Cell
Transplant Service
Content
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History of Cancer
What is Cancer?
Mechanism of Cancer
Biological Properties of Cancer
Cancer Classifications
Causes of Cancer
Cancer Prevention
History
• Cancer has afflicted humans throughout recorded
history. It is no surprise that from the dawn of history
people have written about cancer.
• Our oldest description of cancer 1600 B.C.
History
• Hippocrates Greek physician (460-370 B.C.),
– used the terms carcinos and carcinoma to describe
non-ulcer forming and ulcer-forming tumours. In
Greek these words refer to a crab.
• Celsus the Roman physician, (28-50 B.C.)
– later translated the Greek term into cancer, the Latin
word for crab.
• Galen the Roman physician (130-200 A.D.)
– used the word oncos (Greek for swelling) to describe
tumours.
History – Causes of Cancer
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The Gods – Ancient Egypt
Humoral Theory – Hippocrates 400BC
Lymph Theory – 1700’s
Parasite Theory – 1700-1800’s
Blastema Theory – 1830’s
Chronic Irritation – 1840-1850
Trauma – late 1800’s – 1920’s
Cancer is a major threat
“The global burden of cancer continues to increase. In the
year 2000, 5.3 million men and 4.7 million women
developed a malignant tumour and 6.2 million died from
the disease. The number of new cases is expected to
grow by 50% over coming years to reach 15 million by
2020”
Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General, World Health Organisation, 2003
London Population 2008 = 7.2 million
Cancer Incidence
Figure 1.1: The 20 most commonly diagnosed cancers (ex
NMSC), UK, 2005
Breast
Lung
Colorectal
Prostate
N-H-L
Bladder
Melanoma
Stomach
Oesophagus
Pancreas
Kidney
Leukaemias
Uterus
Ovary
Oral
Brain with CNS
Multiple myeloma
Liver
Cervix
Mesothelioma
Other
Male
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
Number of new cases
Female
40,000
50,000
What is cancer?
• Is a class of diseases in which a group of cells displays:
• Uncontrolled growth
• Invasion
• Metastasis (sometimes)
What is Cancer?
Malignant and Benign
Mechanism of Cancer
Mechanism of Cancer
• DNA mutations lead to cancer
• DNA mutations change protein content/activity
• Gain of function mutation
– Oncogenes
• Loss of function mutations
– Tumour suppressor genes
– DNA repair genes
Mechanism of Cancer
• Oncogenes
• Most oncogenes are mutant forms of normal proteins.
• The normal gene is called a proto-oncogene
Proto-oncogene
c-myc
c-ras
c-src
Oncogene
myc
ras
src
Mechanism of Cancer
• Tumour Suppressor Genes
• The normal proteins regulate cell division and promote
DNA repair
• Defects in tumour suppressor genes leads to:
• Unregulated cell division
• Reduced ability to repair DNA
• Failure to induce apoptosis
Mechanism of Cancer
• DNA Repair Genes
• These correct the mutations of a gene.
• Mutations in DNA repair genes can lead to a failure in
repair, which would allow other mutated genes to
remain abnormal
• BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations
Mechanism of Cancer
• Generally cancer requires multiple mutations
• Cancer is generally a stepwise process (over many
years)
• Requires accumulated damage to multiple genes
• Activation of Oncogenes
• Inactivation of tumour suppressor genes
• Many cancers have more then 5 independent mutations
Mechanism of Cancer
Biological Properties of Cancer
Cells
• Acquisition of self-sufficiency in growth signals, leading
to unchecked growth.
• Loss of sensitivity to anti-growth signals, also leading to
unchecked growth.
• Loss of capacity for apoptosis, in order to allow growth
despite genetic errors and external anti-growth signals.
• Loss of capacity for ageing, leading to limitless
replicative potential (immortality)
Biological Properties of Cancer
Cells
• Acquisition of sustained angiogenesis, allowing the
tumour to grow beyond the limitations of passive
nutrient diffusion.
• Acquisition of ability to invade neighbouring tissues, the
defining property of invasive carcinoma.
• Acquisition of ability to build metastases at distant sites,
the classical property of malignant tumours (carcinomas
or others).
Biological Properties of Cancer
Cells
The completion of these multiple steps would be a very
rare event without :
• Loss of capacity to repair genetic errors, leading to an
increased mutation rate, thus accelerating all the other
changes
Classification
• Carcinoma
• Sarcoma
• Lymphoma
• Leukaemia
• Germ Cell
• Blastoma
Carcinoma
• Greek:
Carcinos = Crab
Oma = Swelling
• Originating from epithelial cells in skin or in tissues that
line or cover internal organs and typically represent over
80% of diagnosed cancers
Carcinoma
Sarcoma
• Greek:
Sarx = Flesh
Oma = Swelling
• Originating from bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood
vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
Sarcoma
Lymphoma
Latin: Lympha = Water, Clear water
Greek:Oma = Swelling
• Is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphocytes of
the immune system.
Lymphoma
Leukaemia
• Greek:
Leukos = White
Aima = Blood
• Is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is
characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells,
usually white blood cells (leukocytes)
Leukaemia
Germ Cell
• Latin:
Germen = Sprout, bud, seed
• A germ cell tumour is a cancer derived from germ cells.
• Germ cells normally occur inside the gonads (Ovary and
Testis). Germ cell tumours that originate outside the
gonads may be birth defects resulting from errors during
development of the embryo.
Germ Cell
Blastoma
• A blastoma is a type of cancer that is caused by
malignancies in precursor cells, often called blasts.
Examples are nephroblastoma, medulloblastoma and
retinoblastoma
• Blastomas usually occur in children
Blastoma
Causes
• Nearly all cancers are caused by mutation in the genetic
material (DNA) of the transformed cells.
• Substances that cause DNA mutation are known as
“Mutagens” and mutagens that cause cancer are
“Carcinogens”
Chemical Carcinogens
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Over cooked food
Tobacco
Aflatoxin B1
Asbestos
Ionizing Radiation
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UV Radiation (Sunshine, Sun beds)
X-Rays
Gamma Radiation
Circadian Disruption
Viral or Bacterial Infection
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Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV-1)
Helicobacter pylori
Hormones
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Oestrogen
Testosterone
Insulin
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
Immune System Dysfunction
• HIV
• Common Variable Immune Deficiency
• IgA Deficiancy
Heredity
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BRCA1 and BRCA2
Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Turcot Syndrome
Familial Adenomatous Polypopsis
Lynch Syndrome
Retinoblastoma
Down Syndrome
Cancer Prevention
• Modifiable Lifestyle Risk Factors
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Smoking
Alcohol Consumption
Diet
Physical Inactivity
Overweight/Obese
STD’s
Ionizing Radiation
UV Radiation
Occupational and Chemical Exposure
Cancer Prevention - Diet
• Foods and drinks that promote weight gain: Limit
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consumption of energy-dense foods; Avoid sugary drinks
Plant Foods: Eat mostly foods of plant origin
Animal Foods: Limit intake of red meat and avoid
processed meat
Alcoholic Drinks: Limit alcoholic drinks
Preservation, processing, and preparation: Limit
consumption of salt; Avoid mouldy cereals (grains) or
pulses (legumes)
Dietary supplements: Aim to meet nutritional needs
through diet alone
Cancer Prevention
• Chemoprevention
• Tamoxifen
• Finasteride
• COX-2 Inhibitors
• Genetic testing
• Vaccination
• Screening
• Preventative Surgery
Will I get Cancer?
• An individuals risk of developing cancer depends on
many factors such as:
– Genetic Inheritance
– Smoking
– Diet
– Lifestyle
– The environment
• However, it is now clear that the cause of cancer is not
due to one single event, but is multifunctional.
Finally
Everything in Moderation
Including Moderation
Harvey Steinman (food and wine critic)