FoM_PoD Flashcards
what is a tumour
A tumour (or neoplasm) is an abnormal growing mass of tissue Its growth is uncoordinated with that of surrounding normal tissue Its growth continues after the removal of any stimulus which may have caused the tumour It is an irreversible change
what are the different types of tumours
benign
malignant (= cancer)
what is cancer
A fundamental property of cancer (or malignant tumour) is its ability to invade into adjacent tissue and to metastasise (spread) and grow at other sites within the body
what are the most common types of cancer in the uk
prostate breast lung colon melanoma
what is the classification of tumours
Important for understanding tumour behaviour
Important for determining outcome (prognosis) and selecting therapy
Based on tissue of origin -Epithelium -Connective tissue (mesenchyme) -Blood cells -Lymphoid tissue -Melanocytes -Neural tissue -Germ cells (ovary/testis) Benign v malignant
what is the nomenclature of epithelial tumours
glandular:
- benign - adenoma
- malignant - adeno-carcinoma
squamous:
- benign - squamous papilloma
- malignant - squamous carcinoma
what is the nomenclature of connective tissue tumours
bone:
- benign - osteoma
- malignant - osteo-sarcoma
fat:
- benign - lipoma
- malignant - lipo-sarcoma
fibrous tissue:
- benign - fibroma
- malignant - fibro-sarcoma
what is the nomenclature of tumours of blood cells
white blood cells:
- malignant - leukaemia
what is the nomenclature of tumours of lymphoid tissue
lymphoid tissue:
- malignant - lymphoma
what is the nomenclature of tumours of melanocytes
melanocyte:
- benign - naevus
- malignant - melanoma
what is the nomenclature of tumours of neutral tissue
central nervous system:
- astrocytoma
peripheral nervous system:
- schwannoma
what is the nomenclature of germ cell tumours
Teratomas Tumour composed of various tissues Develop in ovary/testis Ovarian teratomas usually benign Testicular teratomas usually malignant
what are the features of benign tumours
- Non-invasive growth pattern
- Usually encapsulated
- No evidence of invasion
- No metastases
- Cells similar to normal
- Benign tumours are “well-differentiated”
- Function similar to normal tissue
- Rarely cause death
what are the features of malignant tumours
- Invasive growth pattern
- No capsule or capsule breached by tumour cells
- Cells abnormal
- Cancers often “poorly differentiated”
- Loss of normal function
- Often evidence of spread of cancer
- Frequently cause death
what are the properties of cancer cells
Loss of tumour suppressor genes
- Adenomatous polyposis (APC)
- Retinoblastoma (Rb)
- BRCA1
Gain of function of oncogenes
- B-raf
- Cyclin D1
- ErbB2
- c-Myc
- K-ras, N-ras
Altered cellular function
Abnormal morphology
Cells capable of independent growth
But no single feature is unique to cancer cells
Tumour biomarkers
give examples of tumour biomarkers
Onco-fetal proteins
Oncogenes
Growth factors and receptors
Immune checkpoint inhibitors
what is the clinical use of tumour biomarkers
Screening
Diagnosis
Prognostic
-Identifying patients with a specific outcome
Predictive
-Identifying patients who will respond to a particular therapy
Alpha-fetoprotein -Teratoma of testis -Hepatocellular carcinoma Carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) -Colorectal cancer Oestrogen receptor -Breast cancer Prostate specific antigen -Prostate cancer
what is tumour growth
Tumour growth is balance between cell growth and cell death
- Angiogenesis
- Apoptosis
what is tumour angiogenesis
New blood vessel formation by tumours
Required to sustain tumour growth
But provides route for release of tumour cells into circulation
More blood vessels in a tumour equals poorer prognosis
what is apoptosis
Mechanism of programmed single cell death
Active cell process
Regulates tumour growth
Involved in response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy
spread of cancer
Fundamental property of cancer
Invasion and metastasis
Major clinical problem of cancer is formation of metastatic (secondary) tumours
Prognosis depends on extent of cancer spread
process of tumour spread
normal -> tumour -> metastasis
modes of spread of cancer
Local spread
Lymphatic spread
Blood spread
Trans-coelomic spread
tumour invasion
malignant tumour -> invasion into connective tissue -> invasion into lymph/blood vessels
Tumour Metastasis Via Lymphatics
Adherence of tumour cells
to lymph vessels
-> Invasion from
lymphatics -> Invasion into lymph node -> Formation of metastasis in lymph node -> Clinical evidence of metastasis
tumour trans-coelomic spread
Special form of local spread
Spread of tumour cells across body cavities e.g. pleural or peritoneal cavities
Tumours of lung, stomach, colon and ovary show trans-coelomic spread
tumour metastasis
Tumour metastasis is major clinical problem
Sites of metastasis not related to tissue blood flow
Depends on both tumour and tissue related factors
Metastatic niche
uncommon sites of metastasis
spleen
kidney
skeletal muscle
heart
common sites of metastasis
tumour: breast prostate colorectal ovary
tissue:
bone
liver
omentum/peritoneum
what are the local effects of benign tumours
pressure
obstruction
what are the local effects of malignant tumours
Pressure Obstruction Tissue destruction -Ulceration/infection Bleeding -Anaemia -Haemorrhage Pain -Pressure on nerves -Perineural infiltration -Bone pain from pathological fractures Effects of treatment
what are the systemic effects of malignant tumours
Weight loss-cancer cachexia
Secretion of hormones
“Normal” - (produced by tumours of endocrine organ - but abnormal control of hormone production/secretion)
“Abnormal”/inappropriate - (produced by tumour from an organ that does not normally produce hormone)
Paraneoplastic syndromes - (Cannot be explained by local or metastatic effects of tumours e.g. neuropathy, myopathy)
Effects of treatment
early detection of cancer
Important to detect cancer at early stage Reduce/prevent morbidity/mortality Detection at pre-invasive stage -Identification of dysplasia/intraepithelial neoplasia Requires effective test -Sensitive/specific -Acceptable Cervical cancer screening
dysplasia
Pre-malignant change Earliest change in the process of malignancy that can be visualised Identified in epithelium No invasion But can progress to cancer
what are the features if dysplasia
Disorganisation of cells -Increased nuclear size -Increased mitotic activity -Abnormal mitoses Grading of dysplasia -High grade -Low grade No invasion
cervical cancer screening
Established NHS program
Aims to reduce incidence of squamous carcinoma of cervix
Detection of oncogenic human papilloma virus from squamous epithelium of cervix