An overview of Cancer Biology

1. KUVEMPU
UNIVERSITY
Sahyadri Science College, Shivamogga
Department of Biotechnology
Seminar Topic : Cancer Biology
Guide: By:
Syeda Misba Fathima Harsha M
lecturer, Dept. of Biotechnology I M.Sc., I Semester
Sahyadri Science college Sahyadri Science
college
Shivamogga Shivamogga

2. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Types of cancer
 Mechanism of cancer spreading
 Tumor and its types
 Properties of cancer cells
 Carcinogens and types
 Diagnosis of Cancer
 Treatment of Cancer
 Conclusion
 References

3. INTRODUCTION
 Cancer is an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in
any part of the body.
 It is a group of diseases in which there is an
uncontrolled proliferation of cells, and these cells are
invasive(invade and destroy adjacent tissues) and
sometimes metastatic(spread to other locations in the
body).
 The origin of the word cancer is credited to Greek
physician Hippocrates, who is considered as “Father of
Medicine.”
 The study of cancer is called Oncology.
 There are more than hundred types of cancer and these
are usually named for the organs or tissues where the
cancers form.

4. TYPES OF CANCER
 Carcinoma: A cancer arising in the epithelial tissue of
the skin.
 Sarcoma: A rare type of cancer
that grow in connective tissue like
bones, nerves, muscles, tendons,
cartilage and blood vessels of the
arms and legs.
 Leukemia: Cancers that occur in
the blood-forming tissue of the
bone marrow.

5.  Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymphatic system of the
body involving immune cells(B lymphocytes and T
lymphocytes).
 Melanoma: A type of skin cancer.
 Germ cell Tumors: Cancers derived from Pluripotent
cells.
 Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: The growth of
abnormal cells(tumors) in brain.
 Oral cancer
 Throat cancer
 Lung cancer
 Breast cancer
 Pancreatic cancer
 Retinoblastoma
 Ovarian and Testicular cancers

6. Mechanism of cancer spreading
Cancers are capable of spreading throughout the
body by two mechanisms:
1) Invasion
2) Metastasis
 Invasion refers to the direct migration and
penetration of cancer cells into neighboring
tissue.
 Metastasis refers to the ability of cancer cells to
penetrate into lymphatic and blood vessels,
circulate through the blood stream and then
invade normal tissue elsewhere in the body.

7. Tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue.
Tumor can be benign or malignant(cancerous).

8. Benign tumors:
 These are non-cancerous.
 These usually grow slowly.
 Do not spread to other parts of the body.
 These are made up of cells that are quite similar to
normal cell.
Malignant tumors:
 These are made up of cancer cells.
 Usually grow faster than benign tumors.
 Spread to other parts of the body and destroy
surrounding tissues(metastasis).

9. Cell shape Uniform Irregular
Nucleus Spheroid shape Irregular shape
Chromatin Evenly distributed Aggregated
Nucleolus Single Multiple, enlarged
nucleoli
Cytoplasm Large cytoplasm Small cytoplasm
NORMAL CELL CANCER CELL
Growth Controlled Uncontrolled
Maturation Mature into
specialized cells
Remain immature
Location Remain in their
intended location
Can spread to different
locations in the body

10.  A substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.
 These are mainly classified as
• External carcinogens which include
Physical factors – Ionizing radiation, such as X-rays,
UV rays and gamma rays.
Chemical factors – Such as tobacco and smoke
Biological factors – Viral oncogenes, proto-oncogenes
and cellular oncogenes
• Internal carcinogens which include chromosomal
aberrations, genetic disorders and hormonal
disturbances.
CARCINOGENS

11. Tumor suppressor genes are often inactivated in
cancer cells, resulting in the loss of normal functions
in those cells, such as accurate DNA replication,
control over cell cycle and interaction with protective
cells of the immune system.
The first tumor suppressor gene discovered was p53

12.  Cancer promoting oncogenes are often activated
cancer cells, with properties like hyperactive growth and
division, protection against Programmed cell death.

13. Diagnosis of Cancer
The detection and diagnosis of cancer are very
important before it spreads to other parts of the body.
The following methods are used to detect cancer –
 Biopsy.
 Histopathological studies of tissue.
 Radiography technique.
 Computed tomography.
 Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).

15. Main types of cancer treatments
Surgery: An operation to remove cancerous tissue and
some healthy tissue around it.
Drug therapies: Drugs are delivered into the bloodstream
so the treatment can travel throughout the body. This is
called systemic treatment, and includes:
• Chemotherapy – uses drugs known as cytotoxins to kill
cancer cells or slow their growth. They are usually given
through a vein (intravenously), but some may be given as
tablets, cream or injections.
• Hormone therapy – uses synthetic hormones to block
the effect of the body’s natural hormones, which
sometimes help cancers grow. The treatment may be
given as tablets or injections.

16. • Immunotherapy – uses the body’s own immune system
to fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs are usually
administered into a vein (intravenously).
• Targeted therapy – attacks specific particles
(molecules) within cells that allow cancer to grow and
spread. It is generally given in tablet form (orally).
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) Uses a controlled dose
of radiation, such as x-rays or gamma rays, to kill cancer
cells or damage them so they cannot grow, multiply or
spread.

17. CONCLUSION
In India, the common cancer types are breast
cancer, followed by oral, cervical, lung and stomach
cancers and more than 25% of the Cancer cases in
India due to Tobacco usage. World Cancer Day is
on February 4th to raise awareness of cancer and to
encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
Cancer is second leading cause of deaths following
heart diseases, one should care about its prevention
before the occurrence of the disease by various
diagnostic tests and if the disease exists one should go
for regular treatment.

18. REFERENCES
 Molecular Biology of Cancer, Lauren Pecorino
 https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/cancer
 https://www.cancer.gov/about-
cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
 https://www.britannica.com/science/cancer-disease

19. THANK YOU