Cancer Timeline and Characteristics

Cancers share the following characteristics (page 70) Hyperplasia Dedifferentiation Invasiveness Angiogenesis Metastasis

Hyperplasia Telomere region =ends of chromosomes Telomerase = enzyme that cancer activates, when activated it lengthens telomere region

Dedifferentiation Loss of normal functioning so…DEdifferentiated

Invasiveness Breaking away from basement membrane What type of cells are attached to a basement membrane

Angiogenesis

Metastasis

Genetic Mutations that Cause Cancer Oncogenes –Normally inactive unless preparing for mitosis –Cell stays in G1 as long as oncogene is inactive –A mutation causes this gene to be ACTIVE therefore… Tumor Suppressor Gene –Normally active to keep the cell from doing mitosis –Cell stays in G1 as long as the TS Gene is active –A mutation causes the gene to be inactive therefore…

Genetic Mutations OncogenesTumor Surpressor Genes

3000 BC Earliest written description of cancer B.C. – describes surgery, pharmacology, mechanical and magical treatments

500 B.C. Greek Hippocrates (Greek philosopher) lifted medicine out of realms of magic Both performed diagnosis and treatment 4 corresponding fluids that governed health: –Blood –Phlegm –Yellow bile –Black bile

1 A.D. Galen (Roman empire) – “physician for a millennium” Served as physician to gladiators – learned a lot and wrote a lot

500 AD Hospitals – an outstanding Arab contribution to medicine Monastic hospitals built for wounded crusaders Best hospitals of the Middle Ages: –Baghdad –Damascus –Cairo

11 th Century Universities and Medical Schools – a legacy of the Middle Ages –Bologna, Paris, Montpellier and Oxford

A.D. Fall of Rome – Constantinople becomes intellectual storehouse of civilization Europe emphasizes faith in healing Universities still rooted in Galen

1500 Research and Renaissance The Art of Anatomy Medicine based observation and analysis Cancer still considered incurable (black bile theory hard to die)

1600s Experimental medicine begins Surgeries attempted, statistics calculated, systems identified, knowledge published and shared CANCER – not caused by black bile! Italian physician Gaspare Aselli suggests abnormalities with lymphatic system

1655 Microscope invented by Leeunhoek Robert Hooke– CELLS!

1700 Nuns, Chimney sweeps and Snuff –takers –First to observe environmental conditions and health risks Cancer thought to be local disease Experimental Oncology begins with French physician Jean Astruc and chemist Bernard Peyrille John Hunter – surgical removal of cancer

1800 Morbid anatomy allows for thorough documentation of organs infected with cancer Cancer cells observed in microscope Ether and use of disinfectants makes surgeries prevail with lower mortality rates

Early 1900s Radiotherapy used to treat cancer – radium Genetic cause of cancer proposed Viral cause of cancer proposed Animal experimentations to find cancer wonder drug 1930 – The National Cancer Institute is founded, educating public

Chemotherapy and radiation providing hope Early diagnosis is key Shocking discovery – smoking may cause cancer!

1955 Watson and Crick – need I say more? Molecular medicine born Radiation and chemo progressing

1960 Silent Spring – Rachel Carson Environmental links to cancer Viral oncology Warning label on cigarettes

1970’s Reverse transcriptase – alters cancer research by making genetic engineering possible Carcinogens and DNA focus

1975 First Oncogene discovered DNA sequencing

1980’s Cancer Immunology – manipulating the body’s own defense system to fight cancer, promising therapy

1985 AIDS and cancer Drug resistance Need for new drugs

1990’s Gene sequencing and human genome project Gene therapies

2000s Stem cells Genetic detection, screenings Advances in technology