Behaviour of tumours

Question 1

What is teh difference between invasion adn metastasis?

Answer 1

Invasion is spread to adjacent tissue, giving a local disease. Metastases spread to distant sites and form new tumours (systemic disease)

Question 2

What are cadherins?

Answer 2

cell to cell adhesion molecules

Question 3

What are integrins?

Answer 3

cell to matrix adhesion molecules

Question 4

What cell properties do epithlial cells often gain in cancer?

Answer 4

mesenchymal cells - loosely connected so better migration

Question 5

In invading cancers, what is the role of their proteolytic enzymes?

Answer 5

degrade extracellular matrix

Question 6

What are the 6 stages of metastasis?

Answer 6

1. detachment invasion
2. intravasation
3. survival against host defences
4. adherence extravasion
5. growth
6. angiogenesis

Question 7

What is necessary for tumour to grow more than 2mm?

Answer 7

angiogenesis

Question 8

What is a cancer stage?

Answer 8

how advanced the tumour is and the extent of spread

Question 9

What is cancer grading?

Answer 9

how aggressive the tumour is and how well differentiated it is

Question 10

What is TMN staging?

Answer 10

T= tumour (size)
M = metastases
N = nodes
Each organ has individual TMN staging
Can be combined to give overall stage (I to IV)

Question 11

What staging system is used for colorectal cancer?

Answer 11

DUKES
A= invades into, but not through bowel wall
B= invades trhough bowel wall but no lymph nodes/mets
C= local lymph nodes involved
D= distant mets

Question 12

Broadly, what determines the grade of a tumour?

Answer 12

How well differentiated it is