Cancer: General

Question 1

Two characteristics exclusive to cancer

Answer 1

Metastasis

Anaplasia

Question 2

Cancer AKA

Answer 2

Malignancy

Question 3

Def: metastasis

Answer 3

Capacity of cells to leave one tissue area, migrate to distant sites and establish new populations of cells

Question 4

How does cancer spread? (4)

Answer 4

Progressive direct local invasion of nearby structures

Through body cavities

To distant site via the bloodstream

To distant sites via the lymph system

Question 5

hematogenous metastasis

Answer 5

cancer spreads to distant site via the bloodstream

Question 6

lymphogenous metastasis

Answer 6

cancer spreads to distant site via the lymph system

Question 7

Def: anaplasia

Answer 7

Mutations in cellular genetic make-up that make the cells more ‘stem-cell like’ (ie able to launch new populations of renegade cells like themselves

Question 8

What is a tumour?

Answer 8

Cancer that has migrated and set up it’s own blood supply

Question 9

Def: hyperplaysia

Answer 9

An increase in the number of cells in a tissue but may be normal or abnormal.

Question 10

Is hyperplaysia normal or not?

Answer 10

Can be normal or abnormal

Question 11

Def: metaplaysia

Answer 11

A change of fxn: cell type will change to a heartier cell type, usually due to chronic stress, irritation; reversible if irritation is removed.

One mature/differentiated/specialized cell becomes a different mature/differentiated/specialized cell.

Question 12

Def; dysplasia

Answer 12

cell populations begin to deteriorate under chronic adverse conditions. Cells become smaller with fewer organelles (grade iii pap smears)

Question 13

Grades of dysplaysia? Reversable?

Answer 13

Low (reversable); high (not really reversable)

Question 14

Carcinoma in situ - def/synonymous w/?

Answer 14

High-grade sdyplasia; ‘cancer present’

Question 15

Def: neoplasia; leads to ____

Answer 15

tumour growth; disorder of cell proliferation/differentiation where cells begin to reproduce w/o compliance to usual rules of tissue formation.

leads to neoplasm

Question 16

def: neoplasm

Answer 16

abnormal tissue structure/tumour- can be benign or malignant

Question 17

order of events/ cancer development

Answer 17

1. Normal fxn
2. Cell differentiation
   - Meta - maybe ok
   - Dysp - starts to be bad
3. Anaplasia
4. Metastasis

Question 18

Benign neoplasm/charactaristics (5)

Answer 18

Local expansive growth
Usually encapsulated
No spread
Slower turnover
Independent blood supply

Question 19

Malignant neoplasm/characteristics (5)

Answer 19

Invasive growth pattern
Invasion of body cavities, blood and lymph channels
Metastasis
Rapid and abnormal cell replication and anaplasia
Independent blood supply

Question 20

How is cancer an immune issue?

Answer 20

Our immune system (t-cells) is designed to recognize and destroy anaplastic cells/abnormal cell growth. If the cells are growing out of control, it’s an immune issue.

Question 21

Cancer, in summary:

Answer 21

cells reproduce rapidly and revert to stem-cell-esq state

Become capable of leaving their tissue of origin

Demonstrate aggressive behavior

Produce large populations of undifferentiated clonal cells with increasing number s of anaplastic cells

Question 22

Body’s response to regularly occuring anaplastic cells (2)

Answer 22

Local immune cell-mediated control or kill abnormal cells

Specialized t-cells located in humeral system (blood and lymph)

Question 23

Can mx therapy cause metastasis/involving the 4 stages of cancer? Explain.

Answer 23

1. Genetic mutation: no
2. Cells shedding from primary tumour: Can cause cells to shed but not before they’re ready.

Therefor, CI = manipulation of undiagnosed lump/tumour and direct manipulation of tumours.

3. Cells leave primary tumour and move into bloodstream or lymph channels:

Once shed, cancer cells are no longer in their tissue or origin, thus, much less likely to survive vs. within the tumour. Immune system very efficient at destroying all cancer cells (Fidler study/’78/ .01% remaining after 3 days)

4.Implantation of shed cancer cells at secondary site:

Tissue affinity is key- the tissue must have a vulnerability to that type of cancer; study- cancer cells injected into rats: most tissues cancer wasn’t able to metastasize.

Question 24

Does promoting circulation and drainage promote metastasis?

Answer 24

No, efficient circulation and drainage increases immune system fxn and thus enables more cancer cells to be killed. Enables body to mount a better attack.

A primary tumour that sheds cells does not always lead to successful metastasis; tissue affinity.