Cancer and Dysplasia Flashcards
3 ways cells can be put under stress
Increased demand/stimulation
Decreased nutrients/stimulation
Chronic irritation
Hypertrophy
Increase in SIZE of cells
Leads to an increase in size of organ or tissue
Hyperplasia
Increase in NUMBER of cells
Leads to an increase in size of organ or tissue
Atrophy
Reduction in cell size and number
Leads to a decrease in size or organ or tissue
Metaplasia
One cell type is replaced by another cell type
Reversible
Adaptive substitution
Usually in response to chronic irritation
Necrosis
Mechanism of cell death in response to cell injury
Cellular membrane breaks down and releases enzymes, etc into surrounding tissue
Causes inflammation
Apoptosis
Mechanism by which the body regulates cell growth and destroys unwanted cells
Not necessarily associated with cell injury
Cell membrane remains intact
Minimal disruption to surrounding tissue
What happens if the gene bcl-2 is upregulated?
Apoptosis is reduced and tumor growth is promoted
What happens if the gene bax is upregulated?
Apoptosis is promoted and cancer growth is slowed
Definition of a tumor
Swelling or lump
Can be benign or malignant
Neoplasm definition
Abnormal mass of tissue
Growth exceeds normal tissue
Persists in the same manner after the cessation of stimuli that evoked change
Benign or malignant
Cancer
Malignant neoplasm or tumour
Carcinoma
Malignant neoplasms of epithelial origin
Dysplasia
Premalignant condition
Early forms may be reversible
Will often progress to invasive neoplasm if not treated
Will see increased cell growth, atypical cellular changes, and altered cellular differentiation
3 cellular changes in dysplasia
Variation in nuclear size and shape
Darkly staining nuclei
Loss of normal orientation
Benign neoplasm characteristics (8)
Slow growing Clear borders Does NOT infiltrate adjacent tissues Does not metastasize Histologically resembles tissue of origin Good prognosis Can be cured by surgical removal Can be a precursor for malignant neoplasms
Malignant neoplasm characteristics (7)
Grow rapidly
Poorly circumscribed
Infiltrates and destroys adjacent tissues
Metastasizes
Histologically may poorly resemble tissue of origin
Often fatal
Surgically cured only in the early stages
Differentiation
Refers to the extent to which the cells of a neoplasm resemble normal cells both morphologically and functionally
Can be well, moderately, or poorly differentiated
Staging of cancers is based on (3)
Size of primary neoplasm
Extent of spread to regional nodes
Presence or absence of distal metastases
