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Principles of Disease > Disorders of Cell Growth > Flashcards

Disorders of Cell Growth Flashcards

1
Q

What is a tumour?

A

An abnormal growing mass of tissue whose growth is not coordinated with that of the surrounding tissue.

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2
Q

What is a malignant tumour?

A

A tumour what can invade into adjacent tissue to metastasise and grow at other sites within the body

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3
Q

What are the top 5 overall cancers?

A
  1. Breast
  2. Lung
  3. Prostate
  4. Colon
  5. Melanoma
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4
Q

What are the top 5 male cancers?

A
  1. Prostate
  2. Lung
  3. Colon
  4. Bladder
  5. Lymph node
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5
Q

What are the top 5 female cancers?

A
  1. Breast
  2. Lung
  3. Colon
  4. Uterine
  5. Ovarian
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6
Q

How are tumours classified?

A

Benign vs malignant

Tissue of origin

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7
Q

What is a benign tumour of the glandular epithelium called?

A

Adenoma

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8
Q

What is a Benign tumour of squamous epithelium called?

A

Squamous papilloma

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9
Q

What is a malignant tumour of glandular epithelium called?

A

Adenocarcinoma

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10
Q

What is a malignant tumour of squamous epithelium called?

A

Squamous carcinoma

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11
Q

What is a benign tumour of bone called?

A

Osteoma

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12
Q

What is a benign tumour of fat called?

A

Lipoma

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13
Q

What is a benign tumour of fibrous tissue called?

A

Fibroma

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14
Q

What is a malignant tumour of bone called?

A

Osteosarcoma

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15
Q

What is a malignant tumour of fat called

A

Liposarcoma

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16
Q

What is a malignant tumour of fibrous tissue called?

A

Fibrosarcoma

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17
Q

What is a malignant tumour of leukocytes called?

A

Leukaemia

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18
Q

What is a malignant tumour of lymphoid tissue called?

A

Lymphoma

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19
Q

What is a malignant tumour in the CNS called?

A

Astrocytoma

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20
Q

What is a benign tumour in the PNS called?

A

Schwannoma

21
Q

What is a teratoma?

A

A tumour of the germ cells

22
Q

Are ovarian teratomas normally malignant or benign?

23
Q

Are testicular teratomas normally malignant or benign?

24
Q

Note some of the properties of cancer cells

A 
• Altered genetics 
		○ Loss of tumour suppressor genes
		○ Gain of function of oncogenes
	• Altered cellular function
		○ Tumour-related proteins
	• Abnormal morphology
• Cells are capable of independent growth

• Loss of cell-to-cell adhesion
• Altered cell-to-matrix adhesion
• Production of tumour-related proteins  Tumour biomarkers
25
Q

What are tumour biomarkers?

A

Tumour related proteins

26
Q

What is an oncofoetal protein?

A

A protein which shows expression in foetal cells, is switched off postnatal, and turned on in cancer.

27
Q

How can tumour biomarkers be used clinically?

A

For screening
To aid in diagnosis
For prognosis (i.e. predict likely outcomes)
Prediction: identify patients who will respond to a particular therapy

28
Q

Give examples of specific biomarkers and the cancers they are associated with.

A

Alpha-foetoprotein

  • Testicular teratoma
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma

Carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA)
-Colorectal cancer

Oestrogen receptor
-Breast cancer

Prostate specific antigen (PSA)
-Prostate cancer

29
Q

How do cancer cells appear?

A

Have celllular and nuclear pleomorphism (variation in appearance)
Mitoses present and often abnormal

30
Q

What are four modes of cancer spread?

A 
Local spread
Lymphatic spread
Blood spread
Trans-coelomic spread
-(spread of cells across body cavity)
31
Q

Describe metastasis via lymphatics

A

Adherence of tumour cells to lymph vessels
Invasion from lymphatics
Invasion into lymph node
Formation of mets in lymph node

32
Q

Describe metastasis via blood

A

Adherence of tumour cells to blood vessels
Invasion from blood vessels
Invasion into tissue
Formation of mets

33
Q

List common sites of metastasis (5)

A 
Liver
Lung
Brain
Bone (axial skeleton)
Adrenal gland
34
Q

What are the local effects of benign tumours?

A

Pressure

Obstruction

35
Q

What are the local effects of malignant tumours?

A

Pressure
Obstruction
Tissue destruction (ulceration/infection)
Bleeding (anaemia, haemorrhage)
Pain (pressure on nerves, perineural infiltration, bone pain from pathological fractures)
Side effects of treatment

36
Q

What are the systemic effects of malignant tumours?

A

Secretion of hormones

  • Normal (produced by tumour of endocrine organ, abnormal control)
  • Abnormal (produced by tumour of a non-hormone producing organ)

Weight loss (cachexia)
Paraneoplastic syndromes
Side effects of treatment

37
Q

How can cancer be detected at a pre-invasive stage?

A

Identification of dysplasia (enlargement)/intraepithelial neoplasia

38
Q

What are the features of dysplasia?

A

Disorganisation of cells

  • Increased nuclear size
  • Increase mitotic activity
  • Abnormal mitoses
39
Q

Describe the mechanism of action of alkylating agents

A

Covalently bonds with both strands of DNA preventing replication

40
Q

Describe resistance mechanisms in cells to alkylating agents

A

Decreased entry or increased exit of a drug into/out of cell
Inactivation of drug
Enhanced DNA repair

41
Q

Give an example of an alkylating agent

42
Q

Describe the mechanism of action of antimetabolite drugs (NB two methods)

A

Similar structure to metbolites needed by cell, can be incorporated into new nuclear materia or bind irreversibly with enzymes to inhibit mitosis

43
Q

Give example(s) of antimetabolite drugs

A

Fluorouracil
Methotrexate
Mercaptopurine

44
Q

Describe the mechanism of action of vinca alkaloids

A

Prevent spindle formation

45
Q

Give an example of a vinca alkaloid

A

Vincristine

46
Q

Describe the mechanism of action of taxoids

A

Prevent disassembly of spindles

47
Q

How do certain antibiotics act against cancer?

A

Inhibit DNA/RNA synthesis

48
Q

Give an example of an anticancer antibiotic

49
Q

Note two other anticancer chemotherapy options

A

Hormones (eg tamoxifen for breast cancer)

Immunotherapy

Principles of Disease (6 decks)

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