Cancer Flashcards
What is a tumour
Any abnormal swelling
- neoplasm
- inflammation
- hypertrophy
- hyperplasia
What do solid tumours consist of
Neoplastic cells and stroma
Describe neoplastic cells
Monoclonal cells from nucleated cells that continue to secrete collagen, mucin and keratin in a tumour
What is a stroma
It provides mechanical support with intracellular signalling and nutrition for neoplastic cells to lay in
What can be found in stromas
Fibroblasts and Collagen
Blood vessels that perfuse the tumour
What does the size of a tumour depend on
Its ability to induce blood vessels for a vascular supply and nutrients
What is angiogenesis and what is it induced by
formation of new vessels from old ones
Induced by VEGF to grow the tumour but it can be opposed by angiostatin/endostatin
How can tumours be classified
Benign
Borderline
Malignant
What is neoplasia
New growth
Malignant or benign
What is meant by benign
Cells grow compact and remain at their site
What is meant by malignant
Uncontrolled cell growth into surrounding tissue
What is cellular atrophy
Decrease in cell size and number of cells
What is cellular hypertrophy
Increase in cell size = enlarged organ
What is cellular hyperplasia
Increase in number of cells = enlarged organ
What is cellular metaplasia
Loss of structural shape
What is dysplasia
Reversible change of adult cell form
How is a cancer cell different to a normal cell
Large number of dividing cells Large nucleus Size and shape variation Loss of normal features Disorganised Poor tuour boundary definition
What are the charecterisics of a benign cell
Nucleur variation Diploid Low mitotic count but normal mitosis Retain specialisation Retain differentiation Organised structure Still functional
What are the characteristics of a malignant cell
Nucleur variation Ploid range Variable mitotic count with abnormal mitosis Lost specialisation Changed differentiation Not organised Lost function
What are some types of carcinogens
Mutagens Chemical carcinogenesis UV radiation Asbestos EBV and HEPB
How does cancer develop
DNA mutation oncogenes/tumour suppressors Altered cell growth and behaviour Mutation passed to daughter cells Change in more than one gene normal to benign to malignant Inheritance and environment play a role
What events cause benign to become malignant
Benign - benign
Benign - Dysplasia
Benign - Dysplasia - In situ
Benign - Dysplasia - in situ - Malignant
How does a carcinoma spread
Direct extension
-Carcinomas are localised growth held by basement membrane (In situ)
Metastatic spread
In situ cells gain invasive ability and transfer malignant cells from one site to another by the blood or lymphatics
(Hematogenous metastases) (Lymphatic metastasis)
How do you name benign cancers (Oma and adenoma)
End in "oma" Cell origin + morphology + "Oma" (Lipoma, fibroma, Chondroma, Osteoma and Papilloma_ Squamous epithelium tumour = Epithelioma Colon/Endo gland tumour = Adenoma
