Carolyn Compton - Cancer: The Enemy from Within: A Comprehensive Textbook of Cancer’s Causes, Complexities and Consequences

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Carolyn Compton

Cancer: The Enemy from Within

A Comprehensive Textbook of Cancers Causes, Complexities and Consequences

Carolyn Compton MD, PhD

School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

ISBN 978-3-030-40650-9 e-ISBN 978-3-030-40651-6

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40651-6

Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland

Contents

Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

C. Compton Cancer: The Enemy from Within https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40651-6_1

1. The Nature and Origins of Cancer

Carolyn Compton

(1)

School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Carolyn Compton

Email:

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

Keywords

Cancer Carcinogenesis Malignant Neoplasm Stem cells Complex adaptive system Mutation Driver gene Oncogene Tumor suppressor gene Incidence Mortality Carcinoma Sarcoma Lymphoma Leukemia Melanoma

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, the learner will be able to:

• Describe the extent of the cancer burden nationally and globally

• Explain how cancers arise from normal cells

• Summarize the cancer cell behaviors that allow them to outcompete and overtake normal cells

• Describe the stepwise development of cancer over time

• Explain why cancer can never be eradicated as a disease process

• Name the principle categories and subtypes of cancer

1.1 Why Study Cancer?

Cancer is a deadly threat that affects all of us.

Cancer is the premier medical challenge for our global society. It is growing in incidence around the world, and its death toll continues to climb unabated. It is now so common that all of us will likely have our lives touched by cancer at some point, either acquiring cancer ourselves or knowing someone with cancer.

This disease is different from all others. Cancer is a disease of the genome caused by repeated gene mutation . To use a metaphor relevant to our times, cancer is a disease in which law-abiding cell citizens in the body are radicalized by newly acquired changes in the DNA of their genes, which, in turn, change their behavior and turn them into terrorists. Once this happens, cancer cells wreak havoc in the body by causing indiscriminate destruction and death of other cells, both locally and in sites far from their place of origin.

In the United States , only two diseases cause nearly half of all deaths and are nearly equal in their lethal toll: heart disease and cancer ( Box ). Since 1968, the number of deaths from heart disease has been consistently higher than that from cancer, but the gap has been narrowing. During the last 25 years, the total number of deaths from cardiovascular disease has been declining progressively until very recently. In contrast, cancer deaths have been rising steadily every year. Spectacular progress against heart disease has resulted from control of known risk factors such as circulating cholesterol and high blood pressure, better medical and surgical intervention , and beneficial changes in lifestyle related to diet, exercise, and smoking. Death rates (i.e., deaths per 100,000 population) from heart disease dropped 64% between 1950 and 2003. During the same time period, however, death rates from cancer declined by only 5%.

Fig. 1.1

Cancer and heart disease kill most Americans. (Reprinted from Centers for Disease Control. Heart Disease and Cancer DeathsTrends and Projections in the United States, 19692020 CME ACTIVITY, Volume 13, November 17, 2016 ( https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2016/16_0211.htm ))

Even the National Cancer Act of 1971, the start of the so-called War on Cancer , did little to staunch the death toll from cancer in the country (see Fig. ).

With cancer deaths going up and cardiovascular deaths going down for decades, cancer had been projected to become the number one killer of Americans by 2020. Recently, however, a small uptick in cardiovascular deaths has delayed that projection slightly (see Fig. ). The increase in obesity, a known risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and cancer, may be a contributing factor to this new trend, with a parallel rise in deaths from these two diseases. It remains to be seen whether or not the cancer will overtake heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States, but it is clear that the number of deaths from cancer is continuing its annual increase.

According to the most recent finalized statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , more than 591,000 American died from cancer in 2014. In several states, mortality from cancer has already surpassed that of heart disease. In 2000, cancer was the leading cause of death in only two states. By 2014, the number had risen to 22 states. For some racial or ethnic groups with US population , such as Asians and Hispanics, cancer is now the leading cause of death (CDC, 2014). The number of new cancer cases continues to increase yearly in the United States, as does the number of cancer deaths. In contrast, the death rate (deaths per 100,000 people in the population) for cancer has begun to decline, due to better prevention, screening, and treatment ( Fig. ).

Fig. 1.2

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