Gastric cancer

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The term cancer is very broad and covers many different illnesses including:

  • Carcinoma (arising from epithelial cells)
  • Bladder carcinoma
  • Breast cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Colorectal cancer (includes colon, rectum, anus, and appendix)
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Endometrial cancer (uterus)
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver)
  • Laryngeal cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Oral cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Renal cell carcinoma (kidney)
  • Skin cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Sarcoma (arising from connective tissue and related)
  • Gastrointestinal stromal cell tumor (GIST)
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma (muscle)
  • Osteosarcoma (bone)
  • Hematological malignancies (blood and bone marrow)
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphomas
  • Hodgkin's disease
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Miscellaneous
  • Brain tumor
  • Melanoma, Moles and dysplastic nevi
  • Teratoma

A cell that degenerates into a tumor cell does usually not acquire all these properties at once, but its daughter cells are selected to build them. This process is called cellular evolution. A first step in the development of a tumor cell is usually a small change in the DNA, often a point mutation, which leads, among other things, to a genetic instability of the cell. The instability increases to a point where the cell loses whole chromosomes, or has double ones. Also, the DNA methylation pattern of the cell changes, activating and deactivating genes more or less at random. Cells that divide at a high rate, such as stem cells, show a higher risk of becoming tumor cells than those which divide less or not at all, for example neurons. If the initial tumor cell (or group of tumor cells) is not removed by the immune system, it will develop into cancer.

In cellular model systems, cells are exposed to carcinogenic influences (chemicals, radiation). In these systems, the first signs of a cell developing into a tumor cell are:

  • Immortality. The usual number of cell divisions for a mammalian cell is 50-60 (cell senescence), then it ceases to divide. Tumor cells keep dividing forever.
  • Altered morphology.
  • Building of cellular clusters (Foci).
  • Loss of contact inhibition.
  • Low or no need for growth factors.

Items 2-4 (above) can sometimes be traced to mutations in genes that result in a disruption of cell adhesion. Some cell adhesion proteins are oncogenes.

  • OncoLink
    Extensive information including news, prevention, clinical trials, conferences and psychosocial support from the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.
  • World Oncology Network
    World directory of cancer specialists and hematologists.
  • Cancer Survivors Project
    A community resource for long term survivors. Includes access to the ACOR email discussion group.
  • EMedicine Health: Cancer Symptoms
    Consumer health resource center providing information on common symptoms.
  • MCW Healthlink: Cancer
    Medical College of Wisconsin Physicians and Clinics resource which provides news articles and information about recent developments.