CANCER – CELLS GONE WILD! Adapted from PPt by Karobi Moitra (Ph.D) NCI Frederick, NIH Cancer Inflammation Program Human Genetics Section Frederick MD. The summary color on the following slides is red; vocabulary words are underlined!

Iscancer a single disease or a group ofdiseases ?

Cancer is a group of related diseases which are characterized by uncontrolled cellular growth and division. Fourth or later mutation Third mutation Second mutation First mutation Cell Suicide or Apoptosis Cell damage— no repair

Earliest Mention of Cancer 3000 BC The earliest written description of cancer known to exist is the Edwin Smith Papyrus. It describes eight cases of breast tumors or ulcers. Image /a1/AncientEgyptianMummy-Antjau-CloseUp- ROM.png /a1/AncientEgyptianMummy-Antjau-CloseUp- ROM.png

Origin of The Word “Cancer” The origin of the word cancer is credited to the Greek physician Hippocrates (460–370 B.C.), considered the "Father of Medicine." Hippocrates used the terms carcinos and carcinoma to describe non-ulcer forming and ulcer-forming tumors. In Greek, these words refer to a crab, most likely applied to the disease because the finger-like spreading projections from a cancer called to mind the shape of a crab. The Roman physician, Celsus (28-50 B.C.), later translated the Greek term into cancer, the Latin word for crab. Galen ( A.D.), another Roman physician, used the word oncos (Greek for swelling) to describe tumors. Galen's term is now used as a part of the name for cancer specialists -- oncologists.

Cancer is uncontrolled cell division; it may be caused by environmental factors and/or changes in enzyme production. Cancerous cells divide when they should not divide and they lack the normal control systems to shut off unwanted cell division.

R Cell death = Cell growth Cell death < Cell growth

R In most cases, cancer forms a cell mass called a tumor. Breast Mammogram Image filter/l/gallery/mammogra m_breast_cancer_tumor.j pg filter/l/gallery/mammogra m_breast_cancer_tumor.j pg Lung Carcinoma Image ki/File:Lung_cancer.jpg ki/File:Lung_cancer.jpg

R Benign tumor – has restricted growth and tends to remain in one area. EX: wart. Malignant tumor - does not remain localized but invades other tissue and gives rise to secondary tumors in other parts of the body (metastasis).

R Diagram of Metastasis

R

R Carcinogen - substances and exposures that can lead to cancer Radiation – including the sun Alcohol Engine exhaust Tobacco Smoke Certain chemicals Cancer can also be caused by random mutation and exposure to certain viruses. Causes of Cancer