Neoplasia Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the cell characteristics of benign vs malignant neoplasms

A

BENIGN: well differentiated and resemble original tissue

MALIGNANT: undifferentiated with anaplasia and atypical structure. Little resemblance to original tissue

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2
Q

Describe the rate of growth of benign vs malignant neoplasms.

A

BENIGN: progressive and slow growth. May stop or regress

MALIGNANT: variable and depends on lvl of differentiation; dec differentiation, inc rate of growth

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3
Q

Describe the mode of growth of benign vs malignant neoplasms.

A

BENIGN: by expansion (does not invade) and usually encapsulated.

MALIGNANT: by invasion of surrounding tissue.

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4
Q

Describe the metastasis of benign vs malignant neoplasms.

A

BENIGN: does not metastasize

MALIGNANT: gains access to blood and lymph and metastasizes to other areas

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5
Q

What is proliferation?

A

the process of cell division.

it is an adaptive mechanism for cell replacement

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6
Q

Describe differentiation

A

the process whereby new cells acquire structure and function of cells they replace.

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7
Q

are well differentiated cells benign or malignant?

A

benign

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8
Q

Describe anaplasia

A

the process of loss of cell differentiation in cancerous tissue

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9
Q

What is the cause (on the cellular level) of benign neoplasia?

A

cells that lose there ability to regulate proliferation

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10
Q

How are benign neoplasms named?

A

with the ending “oma”

note that some cancers also end in oma

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11
Q

What is the cause of malignant neoplasia (on the cellular level)?

A

loss of ability to regulate proliferation and differentiation

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12
Q

What are the two types of tissue that make up all tumors (benign and malignant)?

A

PARENCHYMAL tissue:
cells of tumor determining its growth

SUPPORTING tissue:
CT, extracellular matrix, blood vessels that are all essential to tumor growth

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13
Q

Define neoplasm

A

an abnormal tissue mass with uncontrolled proliferation of cells not coordinated with normal cells.

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14
Q

Describe 5 characteristics of neoplasms

A

1) do not wait for signals before growth
2) ignore signals to stop dividing
3) often do not mature properly to perform the function
4) do not undergo apoptosis to keep their numbers constant

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15
Q

What are the three ways that cancerous tumors can spread.

A

1) direct invasion and extension
- aided by enzymes that breakdown proteins

2) Seeding of body cavities
- shedding into cavity or from cancer

3) Metastasis (through lymphatic and vascular pathways)

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16
Q

What is metastasis?

A

the development of a secondary tumor in a location distant from the primary tumor.

secondary retains characteristics of first

17
Q

What is the first lymph node that drains the area containing the cancer cells called? How is it found and what can it tell us about the cancer?

A

the sentinel lymph node.

It is found by injecting a radioactive die into the tumor and tracking which lymph node it drains to. Then performing a biopsy to see if it contains cancerous cells.

18
Q

What is angiogenesis and how does it relate to cancer?

A

It is the process of proliferation for vessels

Angiogenesis marks the transition from a benign to malignant tumor

19
Q

List 7 factors that are linked to cancer.

A

HEREDITY: some more than others

HORMONES

OBESITY: inc insulin and resistance which are associated with a certain Ca

IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS

CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS: bind with DNA and RNA proteins and mutate

RADIATION

VIRAL/MICROBIAL

20
Q

What are some Ca that is linked to heredity?

A

Breast, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic, colon

21
Q

What are some common manifestations of Ca?

A

ANOREXIA and CACHEXIA

FATIGUE and SLEEP disorders

PARANEOPLASTIC SYNDROME

22
Q

describe the manifestation of anorexia and cachexia. What is a type of Ca that it is not common in?

A

it is a wasting syndrome of body muscle and fat.

this loss is a result of persistent inflammation and a hypermetabolic state (tumors rely on anaerobic pathways more than aerobic b/c of dec O2 supply)

Not common in breast Ca

23
Q

What is the most frequent manifestation of Ca?

A

Fatigue and sleep disorders

24
Q

Describe the manifestation of fatigue and sleep disorders including the cause.

A

It is different in that it is not relieved by rest or sleep.

Occurs both as a direct effect of the Ca and as an AE of treatment.

it is related to anemia and hormonal changes

25
Q

What neurotransmitter hormone can Ca treatments affect that can lead to fatigue and sleep disorders?

A

Serotonin in the brain

26
Q

What are some components of Ca that contribute to anemia?

A

Treatment: cytotoxic that reduce RBC production

nutritional deficiencies

bone marrow failure

blunted erythropoietin response to hypoxia

27
Q

Describe what paraneoplastic syndromes are.

A

manifestations in sites that are not directly affected by the Ca

often a result of inappropriate hormone/cytokine release

(unexpected symptoms)

28
Q

give an example of a paraneoplastic syndrome.

A

some Cas release procoagulation factors resulting in clotting and thrombosis

29
Q

What are the three ways of diagnosing Ca?

A

TUMOR MARKERS: not very reliable. Measures antigens released from the tumor or substances released in response

CYTOLOGIC STUDIES: pap smear, tissue biopsy, DNA microarray

IMAGING: ultrasound, x-ray, MRI, DT, PET

30
Q

Describe what grading is and its scale.

A

Grading is determining the level of differentiation through microscopic examination of cells.

Grade I: well differentiated

Grade IV: poorly differentiated with marked aplasia

31
Q

Describe what staging is and its scale.

A

The level of extent and spread. Varies with organ, size of prim tumor, lymph node involvement, and metastasis

I - IV with IV being worse

32
Q

What are the six ways of treating Ca?

A

SURGERY

RADIATION

CHEMOTHERAPY

HORMONE therapy

BIOTHERAPY

TARGETED therapy

33
Q

For what types of tumors is surgery the first line of treatment?

A

Solid tumors, especially with defined margins

Poor option if in vital area or poorly defined margins

34
Q

Explain what cryosurgery is.

A

Injecting liquid nitrogen into the tumor

used in tx of liver and prostate cancers

35
Q

Explain what Chemosurgery is

A

involves corrosive paste in combo with frozen sections

used in skin Ca

36
Q

Describe radiation treatment of Ca

A

Uses ionizing radiation

dmgs Ca cells more than normal cells, but damages all proliferating cells (GI and bone marrow)

37
Q

What is hormonal therapy?

A

alter abnormal hormonal activity.

only effective for some Ca (breast, prostate)

38
Q

What is biotherapy?

A

use of interferons to inhibit viral replication or tumor protein synthesis

39
Q

What is targeted therapy?

A

uses drugs that selectively attack the malignant cells and leave normal cells alone.

Only developed for certain types of Ca.