Cellular Pathology of Cancer Flashcards
Metaplasia
A reversible change in which 1 adult cell type is replaced by another
Adaptive i.e. to change in pH
2 examples of metaplasia
1 pathological + 1 physiological
Barrett’s Oesophagus: GERD- stratified squamous epithelium to simple columnar
Cervix during pregnancy: cervix opens up, columnar epithelium of endocervical canal is exposed to the acidic uterine fluids making it squamous
What are the 2 types of metaplasia that can take place in Barrett’s Oesophagus?
Gastric metaplasia: stratified squamous to simple columnar
Intestinal metaplasia: goblet cells begin to appear
State 6 features of cancer that are seen in dysplasia.
Large hyperchromatic nuclei Increased mitoses Abnormal mitoses Increased nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio Loss of architectural orientation Loss of uniformity of individual cells
What is the difference between low and high-grade dysplasia?
Both show changes of dysplasia but changes are more severe in high-grade dysplasia
Low grade appears lighter because high grade has high nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio
High-grade has high risk of progression to cancer
6 main features of benign tumours that separate them from malignant tumours
Don't metastasise Don't invade Well differentiated Slow growing Normal mitoses Encapsulated (except fibroids in the uterus)
6 conditions in which benign tumours become dangerous
If in a dangerous location e.g. meninges If they secrete something dangerous e.g. insulinoma If infected If they bleed If they rupture If they become twisted
6 features of malignant tumours
Invade surrounding tissues Spread to distant sites No capsule Well or poorly differentiated Rapidly growing Abnormal mitoses
Metastasis
A discontinuous growing colony of tumour cells, at some distance from the primary cancer
What are the 2 different types of benign epithelial tumour?
Papilloma: of surface epithelium
Adenoma: of glandular epithelium
Carcinoma
Malignant tumour derived from the epithelium
4 different types of carcinoma
Basal cell
Squamous cell
Transitional cell carcinoma (trans. epithelium found in bladder)
Adenocarcinoma
State 3 different types of benign soft tissue tumour.
Osteoma: bone
Lipoma: fat
Leiomyoma: smooth muscle
Sarcoma
Malignant tumour derived from connective tissue (mesenchymal) cells
What are the names given to malignant tumours of striated muscle, smooth muscle and the nerve sheath?
Striated: rhabdomyosarcoma
Smooth: leiomyosarcoma
Nerve sheath: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour
Leukaemia
Malignant tumour of bone marrow derived cells, which circulate in the blood
Lymphoma
Malignant tumour of lymphocytes (usually) in lymph nodes
Teratoma
Tumour derived from germ cells
Can contain tissue from all 3 germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm)
What is an important difference between teratomas in men compared to women?
Gonadal teratomas in men: all malignant
Gonadal teratomas in women: most are benign
Hamartoma
Excessive, localised overgrowth of cells + tissue native to the organ
Cells are mature but architecturally abnormal
Which group of the population is hamartoma common in?
Children
Usually stops growing when child stops growing
What is the difference between grading and staging?
Grade: degree of differentiation
Stage: how far the cancer has spread
Staging > Grading
What is meant by the ‘degree of differentiation’?
How much the tumour cells resemble the cells from which they are derived
What are the grading systems for breast and prostate cancer?
Breast: Nottingham scoring system
Prostate: Gleason classification
What is the term given to tumours that show little or no differentiation?
Anaplastic
Dysplasia
Precancerous cells which show the genetic + cytological features of malignancy but not invading the underlying tissue
Neoplasm
an abnormal, autonomous proliferation of cells, unresponsive to normal growth control mechanisms
Tumour
Any kind of mass forming lesion
Malignancy
abnormal, autonomous proliferation of cells unresponsive to normal growth control mechanisms
Carcinogen
Cancer causing substance
When trying to assess malignancy of a tumour, what might you look for?
Evidence of normal function still present e.g. production of mucin or hormones
