7: Neoplasia I Flashcards
What is cancer?
Uncontrolled cell proliferation and growth that invades other tissues
What is a tumour?
Swelling
that is it
nothing else implied
What is an overlooked cause of tumours?
Foreign bodies
___ may cause tumour formation.
Inflammation
What are the two classifications used to describe tumours?
Benign and Malignant
What does neoplasia mean?
What is the difference between neoplasia and hyperplasia?
New growth
Hyperplasia is new growth in response to a stimulus; neoplasia has no stimulus
In which cells can neoplasia occur?
Literally all of them
What is metastasis?
The spread of a tumour to other tissues
What is a malignant tumour?
A tumour with metastatic potential
What part of the epithelium is breached by malignant tumours?
Basement membrane
What are the precursor processes to the formation of a malignant tumour?
Dysplasia
Metaplasia
Hyperplasia
What is metaplasia?
Reversible change from one cell type to another
What signals cause metaplasia?
Cytokines
Growth factors
Environmental chemicals
Where in the GI tract does metaplasia commonly occur?
Distal oesophagus
At the gastro-oesophageal junction
Barrett’s oesophagus in response to GORD insult
Metaplastic tissue is an AT RISK site for the development of ___.
cancer
When does hyperplasia become worrying in terms of possible cancer development?
When it no longer requires a stimulus
What is dysplasia?
Disordered growth
Abnormal cell growth
Is dysplastic tissue invasive?
Not at first
When does dysplastic tissue become invasive?
Once it has breached the basement membrane
What is the aim of cervical screening?
Detection of dysplasia in the cervix before it becomes cancer
What is the last stage before a cancer becomes invasive?
Carcinoma-in-situ
What are some risk factors for cancer?
Your genes
Alcohol
Smoking
UV radiation
Obesity
Drugs
Infection
