Cancer II Flashcards
cancers are typically named according to ____
tissue of origin + suffix “-oma”
benign tumor names
- lipoma: fat cells
- pituitary adenoma: neuroendocrine cells
- leimoyoma: smooth muscle cells
- chondroma: cartilage cells
- rhabdomyoma: striated muscle cells
malignant tumor nomenclature:
carcinoma
- epithelial origin
- ex: adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma
malignant tumor nomenclature:
sarcoma
- connective tissue origin
- chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma
malignant tumor nomenclature:
lymphoma
lymphatic tissue origin
malignant tumor nomenclature:
leukemia
blood-forming cell origin
eye cancers
- uveal melanoma
- primary intraocular lymphoma
- retinoblastoma
- orbital/adnexal cancers
- metastatic cancers
characteristics of benign tumors
- grow slowly
- well-defined capsule
- not invasive
- well differentiated
- low mitotic index
- do not metastasize
characteristics of malignant tumors
- grow rapidly
- not encapsulated
- invasive
- poorly differentiated (anaplastic)
- high mitotic index
- can spread distantly (metastasis)
deadliest aspect of malignant tumors
metastasis
tumor grading
- assesses cellular differentiation
- histological grade (amount of anaplasia)
- nuclear grade (size and shape of nucleus, % of tumor cells dividing)
- low grade= growing and spreading slowly
- high grade= growing and spreading quickly
tumor doubling time
- measure of malignancy
- how fast does it double in size?
- a way to quantify how fast malignant cells populate
- shorter doubling time= more malignant
local spread
direct invasion of contiguous organs by breaking through the basement membrane
metastases to distant organs via ____
lymphatic system or blood
metastases by way of ____
implantation
local spread and invasion
- cellular multiplication
- decreased cell-to-cell adhesion
- increased motility
- release of lytic enzymes
- mechanical pressure
dysplasia
atypical hyperplasia, not causing damage yet
in situ neoplasm
pre-invasive; intact basement membrane;
abnormal cells are present but have not spread to nearby tissue
squamous carcinoma-in-situ of the conjunctiva
aka conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); rapid growth, inflammation, and angiogenesis without breaking through the basement membrane
distant metastases often occurs in ____;
-examples?
the first capillary bed encountered;
colon –> liver; liver –> lung; lung –> brain
meatstatic process
- direct or continuous extension
- penetration into vessels or body cavities
- transport into lymph or blood
- entry and growth in secondary sites
angiogenesis
- growth of new vessels
- late stage of tumor growth
- initiated by secretion of angiogenic factors
- deprives neighboring tissues of oxygen and nutrients, which causes ischemia and necrosis
benign tumors won’t cause ____ like a malignant tumor can
hemorrhaging and necrosis
normal stem cells
- self-renewing
- multipotent
stem cells in cancer
- may give rise to most or all cancers
- very small % of cancer cells
- can’t get rid of cancer until stem cells are gone
paraneoplastic syndromes
- distant and/or systemic effects of a cancer as a result of substances secreted by the tumor
- triggered by altered immune system
- symptoms not directly associated with the tumor
- usually a result of tumor-produced hormones
- may be first signs of malignancy
manifestations of paraneoplastic syndromes
- mental aberration
- neurologic disease
- hypercalcemia
- gynecomastia
- Cushing disease
- electrolyte imbalances
paraneoplastic syndromes associated cancers
- lung carcinoma
- renal cell carcinoma
- tumors of endocrine glands
how cancer causes pain
- little or no pain
- pressure
- obstruction
- invasion of sensitive structures: bone, brain, and bowel
- tissue destruction
- inflammation
causes of fatigue in cancer
- sleep disturbance
- biochemical changes from disease and treatment
- psychosocial factors
- level of activity
- nutritional status and environmental factors
cancer causes cachexia
- present in 80% of cancer patients at death
- most severe form of malnutrition
- altered protein, lipid, carbohydrate metabolism
- anorexia/weight loss
clinical manifestations of cancer:
anemia
- medical therapies
- chronic bleeding
- severe malnutrition
- malignancy in blood-forming organs
clinical manifestations of cancer:
leukopenia and thrombocytopenia
- deficiency in white blood cells and platelets, respectively
- increased risk of infection and hemorrhage
- direct tumor invasion of the bone marrow
- contributing factors: chemotherapy, malnutrition
most common cause of death in cancer patients
infection
increased risk of infection due to:
- low neutrophil and lymphocyte counts
- disrupted epithelial barriers
- surgery
- nosocomial infections
cancer treatment options:
mainstays of treatment
- chemotherapy
- drug therapy
- surgery
- radiation therapy
cancer treatment options:
emerging treatment
- immunotherapy
- targeted molecular therapies (interferons, interleukins, monoclonal antibodies)
- stem cell transplantation
side effects of cancer treatment
- GI tract: mucositis**, malabsorption, nausea, diarrhea
- hair and skin: alopecia, thinned and dry skin
- reproductive tract: effects vary
ocular effects of cancer treatment
- conjunctivitis
- dry eyes
- epiphoria
- photophobia
- corneal deposits
- cataracts
- pigmentary retinopathy
- macular edema
- retinal ischemia
- optic neuritis
