Cancer arises from uncontrolled cell growth and spread. It was named for swollen veins around tumors resembling a crab. Indian medicine previously called it "arbuda". Cancer is characterized by loss of control over cellular growth and proliferation beyond physiological needs. The main types are carcinomas of epithelial cells, sarcomas of connective tissues, leukemias of blood stem cells, and lymphomas of lymph nodes. Predisposing factors include age, heredity, lifestyle, diet, occupation and some pre-cancerous diseases. Cancer cells show diminished growth control, invasion of tissues, and metastasis to other parts.

1. Causes of Cancer, Biochemical Changes, Molecular
Basis of Cancer and Tumour Markers
By
Akanksha Dubey

2.  The term “cancer” is derived from
Latin word “cancrum” or
Greek “karkinoma”, or
Sanskrit term “karkitakam”, which means “crab”.
 The disease is so called because of swollen veins around
the diseased area, resemble a crab’s limbs.
 Indian Medical Science had identified cancer, gave the
name “arbuda”, which literally means the number 108, due
to extreme cellularity of the cancer tissue.

4. The International Union Against Cancer has
defined cancer as a disturbance of growth
characterized by excessive proliferation of cells
without apparent relation to the physiological
demands of the organs involved.
Cancer is characterized by loss of control of
cellular growth and development leading to
excessive proliferation and spread of cells

5.  Oncology deals with the etiology, diagnosis,
treatment, prevention and research aspects of
cancer. (Onco= Tumour)
Neoplasia literally means new growth. Uncontrolled
growth of cells results in tumours
Normal cell exhibit controlled growth, movement is
inhibited by contact. But when this control is lost cell
begins to grow and divide erratically resulting in
mass of cells c/a Tumours

9. Types of cancer:
Carcinoma: Cancer of epithelial cells. Eg
Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma ,
Renal cell carcinoma. 85% of cancer are
carcinoma.
Sarcoma: Cancers of connective tissues, muscles
etc . For eg : Osteosarcoma. 2 % of cancers are
sarcomas

10. Leukemia: cancer of stem cells of hemopoietic
tissues. They are liquid tumours affecting blood
cells particularly white blood cells growing in
bone marrow. For eg Chronic myelocytic
leukemia, Acute T cell leukemia. About 4% of
cancers are Leukemias.

11. Lymphomas: Cancer affecting secondary
lymphoid organs like spleen and lymph nodes.
For eg Burkitt’s lymphoma. About 4% of cancers
are lymphomas.
More than 200 different types human cancers
have been reported so far. But above mentioned
are main

12. Predisposing factors :
Age
Heredity
Environmental factors:
a) Life style
b) Diet
c) Occupation
d) Iatrogenic
 Some pre-cancerous disease

13. Properties of Cancer Cells:
Diminished or unrestricted control of growth
The capability of invasion of local tissues
Capable of spreading to different part of
tissues by Metastasis

16. Characteristics of cancer cells( Deviation from normal
cells)
Morphological Changes:
Round shape, larger than normal
Altered Nuclear and cytoplasmic ratio
Transformed cells grow over another (multilayer)
Can grow without attaching to the surface
(diminished adhesion)

17. Biochemical changes
Increased synthesis of DNA and RNA
Increased rate of Glycolysis : aerobic and anaerobic
Slow alteration of permeability and surface charges
Alterations of oligosaccharide chains
Changes of Glycolipid and Glycoprotein constituents
of cell membrane

18. Alteration in activity of certain enzymes such as
proteases
Alteration in transport property
Inappropriate synthesis of growth hormones
and certain proteins

25. Two stages of cancer development are:
a) Initiation
b) Promotion