Neoplasia Flashcards
What are the two most important angiogenic factors (that are frequently produced by tumor cells)?
VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and FGF (fibroblast growth factor)
What are the three defining features of neoplasia?
- Monoclonal (genetically identical): come from a single parent cell.
- Uncontrolled: growing outside the influence of normal growth factors
- Irreversible
What is the name of a benign neoplasm derived from epithelium? What is the name of a malignant neoplasm derived from epithelium?
Adenoma is epithelium derived benign tumor. Carcinoma is epithelium derived malignant tumor.
What is the name of the cellular layer that lines pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum, and what is a malignant neoplasm that derives from it?
Mesothelium is the cell layer; mesothelioma is the malignant neoplasm
What is the name of a benign neoplasm derived from mesenchyme? What is the name of a malignant neoplasm derived from mesenchyme?
Lipoma is the benign mesenchymal derived tumor. Sarcoma is the name give to mesenchymal derived malignant tumors (named based on tissue that it is derived from, e.g. osteosarcoma)
What are the two main tests for determining monoclonality vs polyclonality?
G6PD enzyme isoform and androgen receptor isoform test (both are present on the X chromosome and X-inactivation can determine clonality)
What are the two components of neoplasms that make up its structure?
Parenchyma (the actual proliferating neoplastic cells) and stroma (the intervening connective tissue that is not neoplastic)
What intermediate filament used in an antibody test to distinguish epithelial tumors?
Keratin (or epithelial membrane antigen, EMA, or carcinoembryonic antigen, CEA, but lower yield)
What intermediate filament is used in an antibody test to distinguish mesenchymal tumors?
Vimentin
What intermediate filament is used in an antibody test to distinguish muscle tumors?
Desmin
What intermediate filament is used in an antibody test to test neuroglia? And for neurons?
GFAP for neuroglia and neurofilament for neurons
What immunostain is used to distinguish a lymphoid derived tumor (lymphoma)?
leuocyte common antigen (LCA or CD45)
What immunostain is used to distinguish a melanoma (tumor from melanocytic cells)?
S-100
What is the term for a tumor that resembles the normal counterpart (ie the tissue in which it grows)? What is the term for a tumor that does not resemble the normal counterpart?
A well-differentiated tumor resembles the normal counterpart. A poorly-differentiated tumor does not resemble the parent tissue; poorest prognosis
What are 5 general traits of benign tumors?
- Slow growing
- Well-circumscribed (easily to distinguish)
- Distinct (localized to one area)
- Mobile
- Well-differentiated
What are 5 general traits of malignant tumors?
- Rapidly growing
- Poorly circumscribed
- Infiltrative (into the underlying and surrounding tissue)
- Non-mobile and fixed to surrounding tissues
- Poorly-differentiated
What are histological features of benign tumors?
Overall they are well-differentiated (think ORGANIZED) -organized growth -uniform nuclei -low nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio -minimal mitotic activity -lack of invasion
What are histological features of malignant tumors?
Overall poorly differentiated (think DISORGANIZED and dividing a lot) -disorganized growth; loss of polarity -nuclear pleomorphism (some large some small) -hyperchromasia (nuclei stain very dark) -High nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio -high mitotic activity -invasion into nearby tissue or basement membrane