Biochemistry 3386B Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Prostate-Specific Antigen, Prostate Cancer
27 Apr 2013
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Document Summary
Cancer (and its complications) are the second leading cause of death. 20% of deaths in the us are attributed to cancer. Females: lung, colon/rectum, breast (ovarian and uterine are also prevalent) A group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and division of cells (proliferation) that may invade surrounding tissues the abnormal mass of tissue is called a tumor. Benign tumor: not considered to be a cancer because it remains localized in the same place that it originated (no spreading) can often be removed by surgery (but may regrow back in the same place) Malignant tumor: considered cancerous because it invades and destroys other tissues, can become mestatic (spread through blood and invade different tissues) results in a poor prognosis. Cancer develops as a consequence of multiple genetic mutations (often not just one) which occur over a period of time. In genes that disrupt cell cycle, differentiation or apoptosis (pathways)
