Cancer - Tumor Effects, Symptoms, Treatment

cancer

Table of Contents

Introduction & Top Questions
Malignant tumors and benign tumors
Tumor nomenclature
- Nomenclature of benign tumors
- Nomenclature of malignant tumors
- Site of origin
Cancer rates and trends
- Statistical records
- Preventable cancers
- Cancer and age
- Death rates
- Variation with region and culture
- Exposure to carcinogens and disease
The growth and spread of cancer
- Tumor progression: the clinical view
  - Presentation
  - Precancerous stage
  - The noninvasive stage
  - Invasion and dissemination
- Metastasis: the cellular view
  - Angiogenesis
  - Microinvasion
  - Dissemination
- Effects of tumors on the individual
  - Local effects of tumor growth
    - Effects of location
    - Effects of functional activity
    - Effects of acute events
  - Systemic effects of malignant tumors
- The immune response to tumors
  - Immune surveillance
  - Tumor antigens
    - Tumor-specific antigens
    - Tumor-associated antigens
Diagnosis and treatment of cancer
- Diagnostic procedures
  - Biopsy
  - Evaluation of tumors
    - Grading and staging
    - Molecular evaluation
- Therapeutic strategies
  - Conventional therapies
    - Surgery
    - Radiation therapy
    - Chemotherapy
    - Bone marrow transplantation
  - Targeted therapies
  - Angiogenesis inhibitors
  - Immunotherapy
  - Gene therapy
- Strategies for cancer prevention
  - Chemoprevention
  - Screening and early detection
Causes of cancer
- The molecular basis of cancer
  - Genetic and epigenetic programs
  - Hallmarks of cancer cells
  - The role of mutation
  - Oncogenes
    - Retroviruses and the discovery of oncogenes
    - Proto-oncogenes and the cell cycle
    - From proto-oncogenes to oncogenes
      Chromosomal translocation
      Gene amplification
      Point mutation
  - Tumor suppressor genes
    - The RB and p53 genes
      Discovery of the first tumor suppressor gene
      Loss of function of the RB protein
      The p53 gene
    - Other tumor suppressor genes
  - DNA repair defects
  - Apoptosis and cancer development
  - Telomeres and the immortal cell
  - Cancer stem cells
- Invasion and metastasis
- Cancer-causing agents
  - Oncogenic viruses
    - DNA viruses
      Human papillomaviruses
      Epstein-Barr virus
      Hepatitis B virus
    - RNA viruses
  - Chemicals, particulate matter, and fibers
    - Initiators
    - Promoters
  - Radiation
    - Ultraviolet radiation
    - Ionizing radiation
- Inherited susceptibility to cancer
  - Familial cancer syndromes
  - Syndromes resulting from inherited defects in DNA repair mechanisms
Milestones in cancer science

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

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The signs and symptoms of benign or malignant tumors result for the most part from the local effects of either the primary tumor or its metastases. In some cases the primary tumor and the secondary metastases do not progress at the same pace, and in such an instance the primary tumor may manifest itself while the metastases do not cause symptoms and, as a result, go undetected for years. In addition to local effects, malignant neoplasms produce systemic effects such as body wasting (cachexia) and a variety of clinical manifestations known as paraneoplastic syndromes. Both local and systemic effects are ...(100 of 22022 words)

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