Neoplasia Flashcards
Define the key cellular responses to stress (4)
Hyperplasia - increased number of cells
Hypertrophy - increased size of cells (in tissues which are unable to further divide)
Atrophy - decrease in size
Metaplasia - change from one cell type to another cell type (reversable)
Define neoplasia
Excessive, irreversible and uncontrolled growth which persists even after the withdrawal of the stimuli which caused it
Define benign
Describes a neoplasm that doesn’t invade and destroy the tissue in which it orginiates or spread to distant sites in the body. Slow growing and remains localised to site of origin
Define dysplasia
Abnormal or atypical cells due to a failure of differentiation
Define malignancy
A neoplasm which invades and destroys the tissues it originates in and has the potential to spread to other sites in the body via the blood stream and lymphatic system
Importance of cell signalling in neoplasia?
Example in clinical setting:
Importance: altering cell signalling pathways can change available treatment and prognosis of patients, increasing use in cancer research
Example: HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) and breast cancer
- HER2 works via Recetor Tyrosine Kinase Pathway
- Overexpression of HER2 in breast cancer = more aggressive
- Good treatments target HER2
- Pathologists look for HER2 in all breast cancer
Importance of cell cycle in neoplasia?
Example of cell cycle significance in clinical practive (neoplasia)
Imporantance: specific changes in cell cycle of neoplasms as part of diagnosis and treatment, presence and basence of mutations are helpful
Example: Microsataellite instability in various cancers
- MSI occurs when damaged DNA isn’t repaired by the mismatch repair system (MMR)
- Damaged MMR system = damaged DNA passed onto new cells which are prone to cancerous mutations
- Higher change of mutation caused by failure of MMR called MSI
- Pathologists can test of MSI which guides prognosis and treatment
What determines different grading of neoplasm? How is the grade determined? What grades are there?
How closely neoplasm cells correspond with normal cells for that tissue
Determined by pathologist using samples form biopsy
Grades 1 to 3
What determines different staging of neoplasm? How is the stage determined? What stages are there?
How far cancer has spread through body
TNM staging, number staging (0 to 4) or individual classifications for different neoplasms
Classify the effect of neoplasms into 5 main catagories:
Local, Metastatic, systemic, para-neoplastic, mental health
What is the patient experience with local neoplasm?
Generalised symptoms (pain, lump), compression of surrounding tissues, ulceration, bleeding/ anaemia, obstruction
What is the patient experience with metastatic neoplasm?
Depends on site of metastisis
What is the patient experience with systemic neoplasm?
Weight loss, loss of appetit, cachexia, fever or felling non-specifically unwell, infection
What is the patient experience with para-neoplastic neoplasm?
secretion of excess susbtances (e.g. hormones have systemic effect), raised calcium (leading to confusion) in cancer patients
What is the patient experience with mental health with a neoplasm?
Depression, anxiety, hopelessness, fustration, worsening quality of life
