BIOL 2P05 Lecture Notes - Oncology, Gtpase, Oncogene
Document Summary
Tar in smoke contains several carcinogens (cancer causing agents: cause mutations in the genes which control cell division (oncogenes, divide uncontrollably to produce a mass of cells - tumour. Tumour cells do not respond to signals from nerves and hormones: continue to grow, no programmed cell death occurs. A small group of tumour cells is called a primary growth. It may be: benign - does not spread from its origin, malignant - spread throughout the body invading other tissues and destroying them. Cells breaking off malignant tumours from secondary growth cause cancer to spread - metastasis: hard to find and remove them in this state. Tumour may take many years to develop with few or no real symptoms: well advanced when discovered, symptoms like coughing up blood and blocked airways leading to diseases like. If the respiratory system is involved: pneumonia are common: removing a whole or part lung may be effective provided metastasis is not well advanced.