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14 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What skin cells are found between the dermis and epidermis, and what is their function? |
Melanocytes are found and they produce pigment in order to protect the skin from the sun. |
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Melanocytes are the cells that become cancerous in malignant melanoma. |
People with darker skin do not have more melanocytes, they are just more active. |
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How is UV light a risk factor of melanoma? |
May be from te sun or sunbeds. Over exposure to sunlight can cause patches of rough dry skin called solar keratoses which increase risk by 4X. |
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What other gnetic factor can greatly increase the risk of melanoma? |
Having large or abnormally shaped moles. |
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What skin and hair characteristics lead t an increased risk? |
Light skin and fair hair increases risk of melanoma. |
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Why are sunbeds a risk factor? |
They use UVA light which can cause cancer. |
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Why is family history a risk factor, and what is the highest risk factor for melanoma? |
We share similar skin tones and liestyle as a close family member. Highest risk factor is a close family member with melanoma and 50 moles yourself. this is known as FAMMM. |
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What are the clinical feautures of moles developing into a melanoma? |
Darkening, inflammation and irregular borders. |
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Overview of melanoma pathogenesis: |
UV stimulates production of melanocortin which induces production of sun-protective pigment. It also produces growth factors such as FGF and TGF. UV also promotes mutagenic effects on DNA through generation of ROS leading to mutations that cause activation of oncogenes or loss of tumor suppressor genes. |
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Resulting signals from various growth factors like FGF anf TGF are transduced via the |
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Melanoma Therapy options: |
Surgery is the main treatment, radiotherapy is also used. Chemotherapy also an option but not often used as low success rates. |
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Describe immunotherpay for melanoma: |
Research points to up regulation of regulatory T cells to have an important role in melanoma. Tregs suppress immune response to tumour cells. Immunotherapy reduces Treg count. |
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What are the molecules used in immunotherapy? |
Interferon a-2b: depletes Tregs, allowing immune cells to attack the tumour cells. IL-2: modulate survival, activation and proliferation of T cells. Ipilimumab: |
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How do MAPK, MEK, ERK inhibitors work? |
They are map kinase pathway inhibitors, they inhibit BRAF. |
