Cancer Flashcards
Chondro-
cartilage
Leiomyo-
smooth muscle
Rhabdomyo-
Skeletal muscle
seminoma
germ cell (testicular)
teratoma
germ cell (multiple layers)
Contrast gross pathology, histopathology, and cytopathology
gross - findings from naked eye examination of specimens
histopathology - findings from microscopic examination of stained tissue
cytopathology - findings from the microscopic examination of individual cells or groups of cells
Define molecular pathology
findings from the examination of the DNA/RNA of specimens
Contrast general gross characteristics of benign and malignant tumors.
Benign - smooth, well circumscribed border
sometimes are encapsulated by fibers
Malignant - irregular, diffuse and invasive borders
What are some key microscopic features of malignant tumors?
Nuclear irregularities, such as:
- Irregular contours
- Increased size (high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio)
- Large and/or multiple nucleoli
- Open chromatin or hyperchromasia (dark from abundance of chromatin)
- Areas of necrosis (lack of blood supply)
What characteristics factor into tumor grading?
low-grade: well-differentiated cells (look like cell of origin)
High-grade: poorly differentiated (looks less like cell of origin) or undifferentiated (anaplastic)
What are three avenues for metastasis?
Hematogenously - blood vessels
Lymphatic - lymph (can invade nerves)
Transcoelemic - through body cavities
What are paraneoplastic syndomes and list a few common examples
Distant affects of malignant tumors
Cachexia (wasting)
Hypercalcemia (abundance of calcium)
Polycethemia (abnormally high Hbg)
adeno-
glands
Stage
T: Tumor Size/Extent
N: Nodal
M: Metastasis
Oncogenes
“Accelerators”
Normal genes that when mutated accelerate cell proliferation
- Amplification, alters transcription factors, promoter demethylation, miRNA overexpression
KRAS
Common in colon cancer
GTPase, mutations can result in inappropriate activation (oncogene)
HER2
Common in breast cancer
Amplification of activity leads to increased signalling for cell proliferation (oncogene)
receptive to Herceptin
Tumor Supressor Gene
“Brakes”
Genes that when mutated to be less active can lead to cancer
- Deletion, Alters transcription factos , promoter methylation, miRNA underexpression
RB
(Retinoblastoma) Tumor Suppressor Gene
Inactivating mutation doesn’t allow for Rb to inhibit the cell cycle
TP53
Tumor Suppressor
Deletion -> No protein, affected restriction point in cell cycle
Hallmark 1
Cancer Cells avoid Apoptosis
Overexpression of BCL2
Inhibits mitochondrial response to damage and lack of growth signals
Hallmark 2
Cancer cells use growth signaling pathways (autocrine)
Amplification of HER2 growth factor signalling, results in active GTPase