Biochemistry 2280A Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Myc, Antibody, Haematopoiesis
1 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Leading cause of death in north america. Is becoming more prevalent as the population ages. Cancer is a diseases characterized by genetic and biochemical defects: cells have issues with biochemistry due to genetic defects. Biochemistry and molecular biology are providing opportunities for curing cancers. Benign: encapsulated/contained, not a big problem because surgeon can go in and remove it. Malignant: not contained, cells tend to be more abnormal, prone to metastasis because they are not contained. Malignant tumour can spread from their original, primary site to additional sites. Problematic because it cannot be removed surgically because it is found in multiple spots. Different cancers spread to different sites: common sites: bones, liver, lungs. As little as 1/1000 cells do this but that is enough to cause a problem because 1/1000 cells is still a lot. Susceptibility to cancer can be inherited: retinoblastoma cancer of the eye, xeroderma pigmentosa cancer of the skin, some form of breast, prostate, ovarian and intestinal cancers.
