Carcinogenisis:

The word carcino-cancer, genesis-formation. therefore carcinogenesis is formation of cancer, ie, it involves all the factors which influence the formation of cancer namely the genetics, etiology and pathoghenesis. (causes and how the cancer occurs)

Cancer is a group of diseases in which genetically damaged cells proliferate autonomously. Such cells cannot respond to normal regulatory mechanisms that ensure the intercellular cooperation required in multicellular organisms. Consequently, they continue to proliferate, thereby robbing nearby normal cells of nutrients and eventually crowding surrounding healthy tissue. Benign (harmless) Malignant(harmful, invades the surrounding tissue, spread to other parts of the body and cause cancer there; commonly causes death/disability) Cancers are classified based on the tissue they affect. Carcinoma- cancer of the lining cells of the body(epithelial cells are affected) Sarcoma-Cancer of the connective tissues (bone, muscles, tendons, ligaments etc) What is carcinogenesis? The process of formation of cancer is known as carcinogenesis. We can say it is the apparent process by which a normal cell gets converted to a cancerous cell. It has got three stages: Initiation, promotion and progression. INITIATION: During the initiation phase of carcinogenesis, a permanent change in a
cells genome provides it with a growth advantage over its neighbors. Most initiating mutations affect proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Proto oncogenes code for a variety of growth factors, growth factor receptors, enzymes, or transcription factors that promote cell growth and/or cell division. Mutated versions of proto oncogenes that promote abnormal cell proliferation are called oncogenes. Because tumor suppressor

genes suppress carcinogenesis, their loss also facilitates tumor development, examples include the FCC and DCC genes which are associated with the development of colon cancer CARCONOGENETIC AGENTS .These are agents which help In initiation and progression of carcinogenesis. They are mutagenic and cause damage and alteration in protooncogenes or tumor suppressor cells. They are classified explained as follows

1. Chemical carcinogens: Most cancer-causing chemicals are

mutagenic; that is, they alter DNA structure. Some carcinogens (e.g., nitrogen mustard) are highly reactive electrophiles that attack electron-rich groups in DNA (as well as RNA and protein). Other carcinogens (e.g., benzo[a]pyrene) are actuallyprocarcinogens, which are converted to active by one or more enzyme-catalyzed reactions some of the chemical carcinogens are listed here.
Carbon black extract , Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroform, Chlorophenols, Pentachlorophenol, coffee, DDT, saccharin, progestins, styerene, textile manufacturing, welding fumes etc.,

2. Viruses: Most cancers associated is found in animals, but some are causing cancer in humans also. Viruses appear to contribute to the
transformation process in several ways. Some introduce oncogenes into a host cell chromosome as they insert their genome.

Some of the common cancer causing viruses are HPV, (human papilloma virus), HTLV (Human T-Cell lymphoma virus), Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Bar virus, Hepatitis B virus, KSHV(kaposis sarcoma associated herpes virus) etc.,

3. Radiation. Some radiation (UV, X-rays, and _-rays) is carcinogenic. As

noted, the damage inflicted on DNA includes single- and double-strand breaks, pyrimidine dimer formation, and the loss of both purine and pyrimidine bases. Radiation exposure also causes the formation of ROS, which may be responsible for most of radiations carcinogenic effects.

Following initiation and promotion, cells go through a process referred to as progression. During progression, genetically vulnerable precancerous cells, which already possess significant growth advantages over normal cells, are further damaged. Eventually, the continued exposure to carcinogens and promoters makes further random mutations inevitable. If these mutations affect cellular proliferative or differentiating capacity, then an affected cell may become sufficiently malignant to produce a tumor.