CANCER

INTRODUCTION
Cancer is a state of rapid, abnormal, uncontrolled,
unwanted multiplication and abnormal growth of
some types of cells.
It results when the controls that regulate normal cell
growth get lost and cell division goes out of control.
It is often accompanied by an abnormal
differentiation, called neoplasia.
The cells which undergo cancerous multiplication
are known as neoplastic cells.
They form hard lumps of undifferentiated cells
known as tumors.
 CANCER
The formation of tumors by the
transformation of normal cells to
cancer cells is called tumorogenesis
and their rapid spreading is called
metaplasia.
Most of the tumor cells are immature
and abnormal and are not orderly
arranged and systematically
organized.
 CANCER
Tumors are of two kinds, they are

Benign tumor

Malignant tumor
BENIGN AND MALIGNANT
TUMOR Malignant
Benign tumor tumor
It usually develops at Not localised at sites.
certain localised sites. They are spreading, harmful
and usually fatal.
Not fatal. They are not surrounded by a
Surrounded by fibrous fibrous capsule.
capsule. The formation and spreading of
malignant tumor is commonly
They do not invade and called cancer disease.
destroy normal tissues. The common locations of
secondary tumor includes liver,
Their cells do not
brain, lungs, bones, kidney,
migrate and spread to urinary bladder, larynx, testes,
other parts. breasts etc..
BENIGN V/S MALIGNANT
TUMOURS
 TYPES OF CANCERS
Cancer is not a single disease by itself.
More than 200 different kinds of cancerous
diseases have been identified.
They are classified under a few groups
based on the tissues in which the primary
growth occurs.
The major ones among them include
carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemia,
lymphomas, blastomas, and
melanomas.
 TYPES OF CANCER
CARCINOMAS: Take their origin from
epithelial cell. Nearly 85% human cancers
belong to this group. Brain cancer, breast,
throat, skin cancer etc .
SARCOMAS: Originate in connective and
muscular tissues. Nearly 2% of human
cancer are sarcomas.
Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)
Cartilage cancer (chondrosarcoma)
Muscle cancer (myosarcoma)
 TYPES OF CANCERS
LEUKEMIA: originate in the haemopoietic tissues
of bone marrow, lymph nodes etc. so, they are
also called myeloproliferative disorders.
LYMPHOMAS: nearly 5% of human cancers.
BLASTOMAS: they are cancers of
undifferentiated embryonic cells.
NEUROBLASTOMA: It is the cancer of embryonic
nerve cells.
NEPHROBLASTOMA: It is the cancer of
embryonic renal cells.
TYPES OF CANCER
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER
CELLS
Cancer cells are highly modified cells.
The new properties of cancer cell are probably
conditioned by the post translational modification
of enzymes and other proteins.
Defective cell cycle regulation
uncontrolled cell proliferation.
anchorage independence (Reduced cellular adhesion).
loss of contact inhibition.
Metastasis, invasiveness and destructive growth.
Loss of cell recognition and tissue specificity.
Biological and physiological de-specialization.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER
CELL
weakened or disrupted physiological feedback
mechanisms.
Inability to respond to stimuli.
Metabolic imbalance.
High adaptation to unfavorable conditions.
Defective differentiation.
Potential immortality.
Chromosomal inconsistency and genetic
instability.
Increased production of proteolytic enzymes.
 ORIGIN OF CANCER
Origin of cancer is known as carcinogenesis.
It is simply the change of normal cells to
cancer cells by a process called
transformation
It involves abnormal chromosomal and
genetic changes.
The agents or factors which induce
carcinogenesis are known as carcinogens.
Certain viruses are thought to be cancer
causing too.
 ORIGIN OF CANCER
A single carcinogen may induce carcinogenesis
all by itself only when its concentration in the
body reaches the optimum level, known as
threshold dose.
A sub-threshold dose of it will not induce cancer
by itself.
But two or more carcinogens in the sub-threshold
dose may collectively produce cancer.
This is called syncarcinogenesis.
The agent involved in it are known as
syncarcinogens.
 ORIGIN OF CANCER
Sometimes, a non-carcinogenic
substance, in combination with the
sub-threshold dose of carcinogen,
may produce cancer.
This is called co-carcinogenesis.
The non-carcinogens involved in it,
known as co-carcinogen or promoter.
 CAUSES OF
CARCINOGENESIS
I. The tendency to develop some types of cancer is
heritable.
II. In the tumor cells of certain types of cancer,
chromosomes are abnormal.
III. There is a close correlation between the
carcinogens and mutagenic abilities of some
agents. In other words, most mutagens are
potent carcinogens.
IV.Mitosis is less precise in tumor cells leading to
abnormalities in chromosome number.
V. Chromosome in tumor cells frequently show
structural rearrangements.
 THEORIES OF
CARCINOGENESIS
1. Somatic mutation theory
(mutational origin of cancer).
2. Oncogene theory(genetic origin of
cancer).
3. Viral gene theory (viral origin of
cancer).
4. Polygenic or multifactorial basis of
cancer.