Pathophysiology of Cancer
Gauri Sabnis, PhD
Reading:
Katzung et al, Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Chapter 54
Goodman and Gilman’s Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Chapter 37
Golan D. et al. Principals of Pharmacology, Chapter 39, 40
1
, Cancer Epidemiology
✥Second leading cause of death in the US
✵Leading cause of death in Hispanic Americans
✥Risk of developing cancer increases with age
✵Except childhood cancers
✥People in the lower socioeconomic strata, racial
minorities, and people without adequate health-care
resources are at a higher risk of dying from cancer
✵Preventive care and regular screenings can help improve cancer
mortality by
Ensuring preventable cancers can be prevented
Cancer can be diagnosed in its early stages when its curable
• Pharmacists in the community can contribute
3
, ✥ Ager
es
Risk Factors ✵ The most significant risk factor for most cancers
z Lifestyle
✥
✵ Obesity (Diet and lack of physical activity)
✵ Alcohol consumption
✵ Tobacco (smoking yourself)
✥ Environmental factors
✵ Tobacco (being exposed to smoking)
✵ Ionizing radiation (including sunlight)
✵ Infections (HPV, HIV, H. Pylori)
✥ Hormone related factors
4
Risk Factors (NCI)
, Obesity and Cancer
✥Certain types of
cancers’ risk is
increased in
overweight/obese
patients
✵Hormonal influence
✵Chronic low-grade
inflammation leading
to immune system
exhaustion
5
Gauri Sabnis, PhD
Reading:
Katzung et al, Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Chapter 54
Goodman and Gilman’s Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Chapter 37
Golan D. et al. Principals of Pharmacology, Chapter 39, 40
1
, Cancer Epidemiology
✥Second leading cause of death in the US
✵Leading cause of death in Hispanic Americans
✥Risk of developing cancer increases with age
✵Except childhood cancers
✥People in the lower socioeconomic strata, racial
minorities, and people without adequate health-care
resources are at a higher risk of dying from cancer
✵Preventive care and regular screenings can help improve cancer
mortality by
Ensuring preventable cancers can be prevented
Cancer can be diagnosed in its early stages when its curable
• Pharmacists in the community can contribute
3
, ✥ Ager
es
Risk Factors ✵ The most significant risk factor for most cancers
z Lifestyle
✥
✵ Obesity (Diet and lack of physical activity)
✵ Alcohol consumption
✵ Tobacco (smoking yourself)
✥ Environmental factors
✵ Tobacco (being exposed to smoking)
✵ Ionizing radiation (including sunlight)
✵ Infections (HPV, HIV, H. Pylori)
✥ Hormone related factors
4
Risk Factors (NCI)
, Obesity and Cancer
✥Certain types of
cancers’ risk is
increased in
overweight/obese
patients
✵Hormonal influence
✵Chronic low-grade
inflammation leading
to immune system
exhaustion
5
