Cancer Pathology Flashcards
-plasia
change or transformation
hyperplasia
increase in cell number, orderly and physiologic proliferation of cells
ex. wound healing, breast tissue during pregnancy, squamous epithelium when irritated
metaplasia
physiologic transformation of one type of differentiated tissue into another type of tissue
can be a response to stress or insult
orderly physiologic process that may regress if stress is discontinued
ex. cervix during menarche, esophagus as a result of reflux
dysplasia
disordered growth, usually associated with epithelium
characterize by changes that include loss in maturation and accumulation of mutations
proliferation is dysregulated and can evolve into a malignant neoplasm
the more advanced it is, the less likely it will regress
neoplasia
a clonal proliferation of cells exhibiting uncontrolled growth
some are benign and some are malignant
some are preceded by dysplasia, while others are de novo
adeno-
glandular
lipo-
fatty
osteo-
bone
chondro-
cartilage
-oma
generally benign
-sarcoma
malignant mesenchymal tumor
-carcinoma
malignant epithelial tumor
lymphoma
malignant lymphoid tumor
melanoma
malignant melanocytic tumor
adenomas of the GI tract
not benign, dysplastic lesions that can evolve into invasive malignant neoplasms (Carcinomas)
leio-
smooth muscle tumor
rhabdo-
skeletal muscle tumor
four general characteristics of benign tumors
well differentiated, slow rate of growth, does not invade adjacent tissues, no metastasis
four general characteristics of malignant tumors
well or poorly differentiated, fast rate of growth, often invades adjacent tissue, can metastasize
tumor cell differentiation
well differentiated tumors closely resemble their tissue of origin, porrly differentiated tumros do not
pleomorphism
variation in size and shape
anaplasia
when tumor cells lose their resemblance to tissue of origin
three factors that determine tumor growth rate
what proportion of cells are dividing
how fast the cells are dividing
the ratio of cell division to cell death
four stages of local invasion
changes of tumor cell-cell interactions
degradation of the extracellular matrix
changes in attachment of tumor cells to ECM proteins
locomotion, migration is the final step of invasion
metastasis
the defining quality of malignant neoplasms
defined as the spread/transfer of cancer cells from one organ or part to another site not directly connected with it
steps of metastasis
metastatic sublone of cells in the primary tumor invades the basement membrane, detachment/attachment to basement membrane and ECM, destruction of basement membranes
migration through ECM due to various intrinsic factors of tumor cells: motility, loss of cell-cell adhesion, collagenolytic and proteolytic enzymes
penetration/invasion of the vessel wall, intravasation
survival and transport via lymphatics or blood vessels
arrest in target organs
extravasation in secondary sites
survival and growth at metastatic site
routes of metastatic spread
lymphatic - goes where the lymph node drains
hematogenous - through small veins, moves to other sites/organs, veins have thinner walls and lowe rpressure
seeding of body cavities - typical tumors in peritoneum
staging using TNM
T - size and tissues involved by main tumor mass (T1-T4)
N - how many and what kind of lymph nodes (N0-N3)
M - metastatic spread (M0-M1)
systemic effects of cancer in the host
cachexia, paraneoplastic syndromes, infection, bleeding/thrombosis
direct tumor effect
destruction/invasion of adjacent structures
ex. bowel obstruction in abdominal tumor, seizure in brain tumor
cachexia
wasting, lethargy, loss of appetite
etiology complex, linked to cytokines and host response to tumor
paraneoplastic syndromes
remote effects not due to local effects of primary tumor or its metastases
ectopic hormone producetion - hypercalcemia (increased calcium in blood)
autoimmune - antibodies against host
hematologic effects
infection/immunosuppression caused by chemotherapy, malnutrition, cytokine milieu
thrombosis/bleeding caused by the inflammatory milieu (activates endothelium, platelets) and secreted factors (tissue factor, cancer procoagulant)
anemia caused by the inflammatory milieu and chemotherapy
four most prevalent cancers that kill
lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer in men, and breast cancer in women
