Biology

In adults, over 90% of all cancers are either adenomas (adenocarcinomas) or carcinomas, including cancers of the skin, lung, colon, breast, and prostate. Which one of the four basic tissue types gives rise to most cancers? Give two reasons why this tissue is more likely to produce cancerous cells.

Skin cancer is the most common[footnoteRef:2]. Each year over 2 million people are treated for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma in the United States alone. The next most common cancer type is prostate cancer. [2: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/skin]

The risk of skin cancer is increased by exposure to UVB radiation, whether by natural sunlight or tanning beds[footnoteRef:3]. Studies in skin-humanized mice show UVB induced DNA damage, p53 expression, and epidermal disorganization[footnoteRef:4], changes that would be expected to increase cancer risk. [3: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/skin/page5] [4: Garcia et al., 2010. Amer. J. Pathol., 177, 865-]

Genetics also plays a role on many levels[footnoteRef:5]. Persons...
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