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Investigatory Project On CANCER
Investigatory Project On CANCER
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INDEX
Sl No. CONTENT Page No.
1 About 5
2 Comparison 6
3 Types of Tumor 7
4 Stages 7
5 Types of Cancer 8
6 Causes 9-10
8 Prevention 11
9 Diagnosis 12
10 Treatment 13
11 Awareness 14
12 Bibliography 15
Cancer
Cancer is a disease involving abnormal cell growth with a potential to invade to other parts of
the body.
Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of human beings and major cause of death all over
the globe.
The development of cancer or oncogenic transformation of cells’, its treatment and control
have been some of the most intense areas of research in biology and medicine.
In our body, cell growth and differentiation is highly controlled and regulated. In cancer cells,
there is breakdown of these regulatory mechanisms.
Normal cells show a property called contact inhibition by virtue of which contact with other
cells inhibits their uncontrolled growth.
Cancer cells appears to have lost this property of contact inhibition. As a result of this,
cancerous cells just continue to divide giving rise to masses of cells called tumor
They form a subset of neoplasm. A neoplasm or tumor is a group of cells that have undergone
unregulated growth and will often form a mass or lump, but may be distributed diffusion.
Cancer develops when the cell’s genetic material gets damaged or mutated.
Types of Cancer
1. Carcinoma:
It is the cancer of the epithelial lining, which can be ectodermal, mesodermal or
endodermal in origin.
This type of cancer can develop in the gut lining, glands (exocrine or endocrine) or
skin etc.
About 80% of the cancers are carcinomas.
Lung cancer, Breast cancer, Duodenal cancer, Colon cancer, Skin cancer, Cervix
cancer etc.
2. Sarcoma:
It is the cancer of connective tissues or muscles, and is mesodermal in origin.
Only 1-2% of cancers are of this type.
Cancer of bones and cartilages etc.
3. Leukemia:
It is the cancer of blood particularly of granulocytes (WBCs) and hence is also
called granulocytic leukemia.
It is a specific abnormality in chromosome 22 of leukemia cancer cells
(particularly chronic myeloid leukemia cells).
4. Lymphoma:
It is the cancer of lymphatic tissues or lymphocytes present in the lymph.
The most common lymphoma is Hodgkin’s disease.
5. Mixed types of cancer:
Lipoma: it is the cancer of adipose tissue subcutaneous fats (beneath the skin).
Melanoma: the cancer of melanocytes present in skin.
Teratoma: it is the cancer of embryonic or fetal tissue that is a tumor-like embryo or
embryo-like tumor formed by the heterogeneous mixture of tissues.
Myeloma: the cancer of bone marrow.
Myoma: the cancer of muscles.
CAUSES
The cancer causing agents or factors are called carcinogens.
Chemical agents:
Certain chemicals may cause cancer e.g. n-nitroso-dimethylene (in
cigarette smoke) and asbestos dust causing lung cancer.
Cadmium oxide causing cancer of prostate gland, PVC (polyvinyl
chloride) and Aflatoxin (from fungus Aspergillus) causing liver cancer.
Nitrosamine causing colon cancer, diethylstilbestrol causing vaginal
cancer.
Carcinogens can also be categorized on the basis of their mode of action as:
DNA transformers: these agents can cause alteration in DNA that leads to
cancer.
Stage 0: Cancer cells are present but have not spread to surrounding tissues.
Stage I, II and III: Higher the number, more advanced the disease in terms of size of the tumor
and invasion of surrounding organs and tissues.
COMPARISON
CELL REPRODUCTION
These cells may have gene mutation or Cell reproduction is needed to replenish
chromosome mutation that affect the the cell population that ages or becomes
reproductive properties of the cells. They damaged or destroyed. Normal cells
do not experience biological aging and
.
maintain their ability to replicate and grow.
reproduce properly
CELL COMMUNICATION
Cancer cell lose the ability to Cells communicate with other cells
communicate with other cells through through chemical signals. These
chemical signals. They also lose signals help normal cells to know when
sensitivity to anti-growth signals from to reproduce and when to stop
surrounding cells. These signals reproducing. Cell signals are usually
normally restrict celluar growth. transmitted into a cell by specific
proteins.
CELL SPECIALIZATION
They are unspecialized and do not They have the ability to differentiate or
develop into cells of a specific type. develop into specialized cells. For
Similar to stem cells, cancer cells example, cells can develop into heart
prolife rate or replicate many times, for cells, brain cells, lung cells or any other
long periods of time. cell of a specific type.
CELL DEATH
When the genes in a normal cell are They have the ability to self destruct
damaged beyond repair, certain DNA when they become damaged or
checking mechanisms signal for cell diseased. Cells break down and are
destruction. disposed of by white blood cells.
DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS
Symptoms of Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which there are not many apparent or
pronounced symptoms in early stages and this is the reason mostly
cancers are detected when they reach a late stage of the disease.
Symptoms vary according to the location, stage and type of the
cancer. Few cancer specific symptoms include abnormal lump,
unexplained weight loss, fatigue, change in bowel movements,
abnormal bleeding or prolonged cough. All these symptoms can
also occur due to other health issues as well.
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