cancer cells Flashcards
What are some characteristics of cancer cells that allow them a survival advantage?
metastsis, apoptosis evasion, proliferative signalling/growth, immune cell evasion, cell energy deregulation, angiogenesis
What are the characteristics of cancer/malignancy in histology?
High nucleus:cytoplasm ration, apparent mitoses, prominent nucleoli, nuclear pleomorphism, hyperchromasia
What is the difference between cancer grading and staging?
Grading gives information about the differentiation and therefore aggressiveness of the tumour.
Staging identifies the level of spread/metastasis of the tumour
What are the requirements for a cancer to metastasise?
The cancer cells must be attracted to the site with specific growth factors and tissue specific receptors, and must be able to detach themselves from their boundaries
What are the 4 different routes of cancer spread?
Local spread (invasion into local structures), lymphatic spread, haemotagenous spread, transcoelomic spread (across body cavities)
How does radiation treat cancer?
Radiation inflicts damage to all cells it encounters by causing DNA damage which induces apoptosis. As cancer cells have less efficient repair mechanisms than healthy cells, after radiation healthy tissue will grow back instead, shrinking the size of the tumour.
