Neoplasia Flashcards
What are the steps involved in the malignant transformation of cells?
Hallmarks of cancer.
How does malignancy alter body function?
There used to be an organ there, the tumor obliterates the organ. Normal homeostasis is interrupted. Either the organ shuts down, or produces material like hormones in excess == pathology.
What are the current modalities used for the treatment of malignancy?
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy.
What is ‘paraneoplastic syndrome’?
Correlated to ‘Tumor Burden,” which produces endocrine, neurologic, dermatologic and hematologic manifestations.
Chemotherapy can produce a Paraneoplastic-like syndrome.
What does ‘neoplasia’ refer to?
New growth.
What are neoplastic cells described as?
Transformed. Because they continue to replicate, apparently oblivious to the regulatory influences that control normal cell growth.
What is a tumor?
A neoplasm.
What characterizes benign tumors?
Often have the suffix-Oma
Non-problematic microscopic and gross characteristics.
What characterizes malignant tumors?
Capable of invading and destroying tissues.
What is oncology?
The study of tumors.
What is morbidity?
The incidence of a disease in a population.
What is a key characteristic of cancer cells related to cell death?
They evade pro-apoptotic signals.
What is mortality?
The incidence of death due to a disease in a population.
What suffix is often found in benign tumors?
-oma.
How do cancer cells achieve self-sufficiency in growth signals?
By making their own growth factors or using the stroma to produce them.
What are sarcomas?
Malignant tumors from mesenchymal tissues.
What are leukemias or lymphomas?
Malignant tumors from mesenchymal cells of the blood.
What role do oncogenes play in cancer development?
They drive cell proliferation independently of regulatory signals.
What are carcinomas?
Malignant neoplasms of epithelial cells.
What happens when tumor suppressor genes are mutated?
Inhibitory signals are removed, allowing tumors to progress.
How do tumors sustain angiogenesis?
By restructuring vessels to bring blood to them.
What are adenocarcinomas?
Carcinomas in a glandular pattern.
What are squamous cell carcinomas?
Carcinomas producing squamous cells.
What enables cancer cells to have limitless replicative potential?
Activation of the enzyme telomerase to restore shortened telomeres.
What are the two basic components of a tumor?
Parenchymal cells and stroma.
What increases cancer incidence with age?
Accumulation of somatic mutations.
What is the significance of immune evasion in cancer development?
It allows tumors to grow despite the immune system’s presence.
What is involved in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells?
Loosening of tumor cells, degradation of the basement membrane, and movement through vessels to distant sites.
How do cancer cells evade immune destruction?
By altering immunity or tricking the immune system.
How do tumors trick the immune system?
By producing specific antigens and altering proteins and glycoproteins.
What are some geographical and environmental risk factors for cancer?
Chernobyl, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, tobacco, alcohol.
What are some hereditary factors in cancer development?
Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
What role do cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+) play in immune response to tumors?
They are formed to target tumor antigens.
What are some examples of persistent inflammation leading to cancer?
HPV, Hepatitis C, H. pylori.
Why is persistent inflammation considered a hallmark of cancer?
Cancer is likened to wounds that fail to heal.
What are the hallmarks of cancer?
Characteristics common to all cancer cells.
What is the role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in genomic stability?
They are involved in DNA repair and maintaining genome integrity.
How do BRCA mutations contribute to cancer?
They lead to genetic instability, increasing cancer risk.
What types of DNA damage are associated with BRCA mutations?
Nucleotide mismatches, insertions, deletions, and cross-linked DNA.
How can chromosomal translocation activate oncogenes?
By causing unequal chromosome distribution during mitosis.
What is phenotypic plasticity in the context of cancer?
The ability of cancer cells to change their phenotype in response to environmental conditions.
How does non-mutational epigenetic programming contribute to cancer progression?
It involves changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, often reactivating embryonic genes.
What role do cancer testis antigens play in ovarian cancers?
They are embryonic genes reactivated during cancer progression.
How do hypoxic conditions within tumors affect methylation patterns?
They lead to changes in DNA methylation, influencing gene expression.
What is the significance of an altered microbiome in cancer?
It can influence cancer development and progression.
What are senescent stem cells and their relevance to cancer?
They are aged cells that can contribute to tumor heterogeneity and cancer progression.
How does the tumor microenvironment affect hematological malignancies?
It influences cancer behavior and response to therapy.
What is the mode of action of Cisplatin in cancer treatment?
It causes DNA damage leading to cell death.
What is paraneoplastic syndrome and its cause?
A complex of symptoms caused by the immune response to a tumor.
What are some endocrine manifestations of paraneoplastic syndrome?
Conditions like SIADH, hypercalcemia, and Cushing’s Syndrome.
What are some examples of classic chemotherapy agents used in cancer therapy?
Platinum agents, Cyclophosphamide, Taxols, Doxorubicin
What is the TNM staging system used for?
Classifying the size, lymph node involvement, and metastasis of solid tumors.
What is the Ann Arbor Staging System used for?
Staging lymphomas, including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin types.
Which therapies are considered targeted or immune therapies for cancer?
Bevacizumab, Bortezomib, Imatinib, Rituximab, Vaccines
What is another common treatment method for cancer besides chemotherapy and targeted therapies?
Radiation therapy
What are some classic chemotherapy agents used in cancer treatment?
Platinum agents, Cyclophosphamide, Taxols, and Doxorubicin.
What are some examples of targeted or immune therapies for cancer?
Bevacizumab, Bortezomib, Imatinib, Rituximab, and vaccines.
What is the role of radiation therapy in cancer treatment?
It uses high-energy radiation to kill or damage cancer cells.
What are Chondroma?
Benign tumor of cartilaginous tissue.
What are Fibroma?
Benign tumor of fibrous tissue.
What is Adenoma?
Benign epithelial type tumors exhibiting glandular patterns.
What are Papillomas?
Epithelial-type benign tumor producing finger-like projections.
Describe the mechanisms by which a malignancy affects the body to generate clinical symptoms and signs?
Depends on the organ, sometimes there are specific SS that are associated with cancers, others there are non-specific SS that may not even be cancer.
Cell Cycle; G1
Period of cell growth.
Cell Cycle; S
Synthesis of DNA (duplication)
Cell Cycle; G2
Period after DNA is duplicated.
Cell Cycle; M
Mitosis (cell division)
Hallmark 1
Evasion of cell death.
Hallmark 2 & 3
-sufficiency in growth signals and insensitivity to anti-growth signals.
Hallmark 4
Sustained Angiogenesis
Hallmark 5
Limitless replicative potential
Hallmark 6
Ability to invade and metastasize
Hallmark 7
Evasion of immune destruction
Hallmark 8
Persistent Inflammation
Hallmark 10
Genomic Instability
Hallmark 11
Phenotypic Plasticity
Hallmark 12
Non-Mutational Epigenetic Programming
Hallmark 13
Altered microbiome
Hallmark 14
Senescent (stem) cells
Stage II
> two lymph nodes + diaphragm
Stage 1
single lymph node or single extra-lymphatic site
Stage III
involvement of lymph nodes and structures outside diaphragm
Stage IV
diffuse and disseminated (distant sites, CSF)
TNM Staging (T)
The size of the tumor and the extent of invasion
TNM Staging (N)
Metastatic spread to lymph nodes
TNM Staging (M)
Metastatic spread to distant sites
