Cancer: General Flashcards
Two characteristics exclusive to cancer
Metastasis
Anaplasia
Cancer AKA
Malignancy
Def: metastasis
Capacity of cells to leave one tissue area, migrate to distant sites and establish new populations of cells
How does cancer spread? (4)
Progressive direct local invasion of nearby structures
Through body cavities
To distant site via the bloodstream
To distant sites via the lymph system
hematogenous metastasis
cancer spreads to distant site via the bloodstream
lymphogenous metastasis
cancer spreads to distant site via the lymph system
Def: anaplasia
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
What is a tumour?
Cancer that has migrated and set up it’s own blood supply
Def: hyperplaysia
An increase in the number of cells in a tissue but may be normal or abnormal.
Is hyperplaysia normal or not?
Can be normal or abnormal
Def: metaplaysia
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.
Def; dysplasia
cell populations begin to deteriorate under chronic adverse conditions. Cells become smaller with fewer organelles (grade iii pap smears)
Grades of dysplaysia? Reversable?
Low (reversable); high (not really reversable)
Carcinoma in situ - def/synonymous w/?
High-grade sdyplasia; ‘cancer present’
Def: neoplasia; leads to ____
tumour growth; disorder of cell proliferation/differentiation where cells begin to reproduce w/o compliance to usual rules of tissue formation.
leads to neoplasm
def: neoplasm
abnormal tissue structure/tumour- can be benign or malignant
order of events/ cancer development
- Normal fxn
- Cell differentiation
- Meta - maybe ok
- Dysp - starts to be bad - Anaplasia
- Metastasis
Benign neoplasm/charactaristics (5)
Local expansive growth Usually encapsulated No spread Slower turnover Independent blood supply
Malignant neoplasm/characteristics (5)
Invasive growth pattern
Invasion of body cavities, blood and lymph channels
Metastasis
Rapid and abnormal cell replication and anaplasia
Independent blood supply
How is cancer an immune issue?
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.
Cancer, in summary:
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
Body’s response to regularly occuring anaplastic cells (2)
Local immune cell-mediated control or kill abnormal cells
Specialized t-cells located in humeral system (blood and lymph)
Can mx therapy cause metastasis/involving the 4 stages of cancer? Explain.
- Genetic mutation: no
- 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.
- 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.
Does promoting circulation and drainage promote metastasis?
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.
