Causes of Bone cancer

Causes of Bone cancer: Online Medical Books

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Introduction: Malignant Neoplasms: What causes cancer?
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Researchers have found that cancer develops from mutations within the genes of cells. Thus, cancer is a genetic disease. Cancer susceptibility genes are of two types. Some are oncogenes, which activate cell division and influence embryonic development, and some are tumor suppressor genes, which halt cell division.

These genes are typically found in normal human cells, but certain kinds of mutations may transform the normal cells. Inherited defects may cause a genetic mutation, whereas exposure to a carcinogen may cause an acquired mutation. Current evidence indicates that carcinogenesis results from a complex interaction of carcinogens and accumulated mutations in several genes.

In animal studies of the ability of viruses to transform cells, some human viruses exhibit carcinogenic potential. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of infectious mononucleosis, has been linked to Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal cancer.

High-frequency radiation, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, damages the genetic material known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), possibly inducing genetically transferable abnormalities. Other factors, such as a person's tissue type and hormonal status, interact to potentiate radiation's carcinogenic effect. Examples of substances that may damage DNA and induce carcinogenesis include:

❑alkylating agents — leukemia

❑aromatic hydrocarbons and benzopyrene (from polluted air) — lung cancer

❑asbestos — mesothelioma of the lung

❑tobacco — cancer of the lung, oral cavity and upper airways, esophagus, pancreas, kidneys, and bladder

❑vinyl chloride — angiosarcoma of the liver.

Diet has also been implicated, especially in the development of GI cancer as a result of a high animal fat diet. Additives composed of nitrates and certain methods of food preparation — particularly charbroiling — are also recognized factors.

The role of hormones in carcinogenesis is still controversial, but it seems that excessive use of some hormones, especially estrogen, produces cancer in animals. Also, the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol causes vaginal cancer in some daughters of women who were treated with it. It's unclear, however, whether changes in human hormonal balance retard or stimulate cancer development.

Some forms of cancer and precancerous lesions result from genetic predisposition either directly (as in Wilms' tumor and retinoblastoma) or indirectly (in association with inherited conditions such as Down syndrome or immunodeficiency diseases). Expressed as autosomal recessive, X-linked, or autosomal dominant disorders, their common characteristics include:

❑early onset of malignant disease

❑increased incidence of bilateral cancer in paired organs (breasts, adrenal glands, kidneys, and eighth cranial nerve [acoustic neuroma])

❑increased incidence of multiple primary malignancies in nonpaired organs

❑abnormal chromosome complement in tumor cells.

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Primary malignant bone tumors: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Causes of primary malignant bone tumors are unknown. Some researchers suggest that primary malignant bone tumors arise in areas of rapid growth because children and young adults with such tumors seem to be much taller than average. Additional theories point to heredity, trauma, and excessive radiotherapy.

For incidence information, see Comparing primary malignant bone tumors.

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Malignant spinal neoplasms: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Primary tumors of the spinal cord may be extramedullary (occurring outside the spinal cord) or intramedullary (occurring within the cord itself). Extramedullary tumors may be intradural (meningiomas and schwannomas), which account for 60% of all primary malignant spinal cord neoplasms, or extradural (metastatic tumors from breasts, lungs, prostate, leukemia, or lymphomas), which account for 25% of these malignant neoplasms.

Intramedullary tumors, or gliomas (astrocytomas or ependymomas), are comparatively rare, accounting for only about 10%. In children, they're low-grade astrocytomas.

Spinal cord tumors are rare compared with intracranial tumors (ratio of 1:4). They occur equally in men and women, with the exception of meningiomas, which occur mostly in women. Spinal cord tumors can occur anywhere along the length of the cord or its roots.

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Bone tumors, primary malignant: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

Although some cases of osteosarcoma are associated with genetic abnormalities (retinoblastoma, Rothmund Thomson syndrome) or exposure to carcinogens (such as ingested radium in watch dial painters), most cases have no immediately apparent cause. Ewing’s sarcoma cells demonstrate a characteristic translocation of genetic material from chromosome 22 to chromosome 11. Additional theories point to heredity, trauma, and excessive radiation therapy.

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Bone cancer as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Bone cancer as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Bone cancer. Our database lists the following as having Bone cancer as a complication of that condition:

• Endometrial Cancer
• Esophagus Cancer
• Hodgkin's Disease
• Kidney Cancer
• Liver cancer
• Uterine Cancer

Bone cancer as a symptom:

Conditions listing Bone cancer as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Bone cancer. Our database lists the following as having Bone cancer as a symptom of that condition:

• Bone dysplasia with medullary fibrosarcoma
• Eosinophilic granuloma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Oslam syndrome
• Osteochondroma
• Osteoid Osteoma
• Osteoma
• Premature aging, Okamoto type
• Syphilis

Medical news summaries relating to Bone cancer:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Bone cancer:

• Chemical signals involved in cancer causes found
• Misdiagnosis common for joint disease
• New breakthrough with chemotherapy technology for childhood bone cancer

Related information on causes of Bone cancer:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Bone cancer may be found in:

• Risk factors for Bone cancer
• Hidden causes of Bone cancer