Neoplasms Flashcards
Tumor definition
A mass of cells that arise because of overgrowth
Neoplasm definition
Abnormal mass of tissue, excessive and uncoordinate growth
Anaplasia
Change in structor and orientation of cells, loss of differentiation and reversion to a primitive form
Benign
Neoplasm containing well-differntiated cells clustered together in a single mass
Malignant
Neoplasm contains cells with less differentation and can metastasize
Invasion
Cells from primary tumor grow to adjacent tissue
Seeding
Spread of cancer cells in body fluids and cavities
Metastasis
Transfer or spread of cancer cells from one site to another (distant sites)
Benign tumors end with
Oma
Malignant exceptions are lymphoma and blastoma
Malignant tumors end with
Sarcoma or carcinoma
Malignant epithelial origin
Carcinoma
Malignant mesenchymal origin
Sarcoma
4 distinguishing characteristics of benign vs malignant
Cell characterisitcs
Rate of growth
Manner of growth
Capacity to metastasize
Benign tumors
Well differentiated, resemble origin cells
Malignant tumors
Undifferentiated, anaplasia with atypical structure
Looks different than origin
Benign mode of growth
Expansion, usually encapsulated
Malignant mode of growth
Invasion, seeding
Rate of growth of benign
Slower than malignant
How do malignant tumors spread
Blood, lymph, serous fluid
Additional malignant neoplasm facts
Necrosis can be associated
Hemorrhage from disruption of blood vessels as it spreads
Two categories Solid or hematologic
How do malignant spread
Ability to produce enzymes that break down surrounding environment
Lack of adhesion to cell which allows them to move freely
Abnormal cytoskeletons allow them to migrate
Peritoneal cavitiy most likely to be seeded
Angiogenesis
Metastasis often occurs through lymph node or vein that primarily drains specific area
Many cancer cells have angiogenesis and enter bloodstream this way
The stage of cancer describes
Size and how far it has spread
The grade of cancer describes
Appearance of cells
Common staging (changes cancer to cancer)
0 in situ (hasnt spread) 1 small hasnt spread 2 grown no spread 3 larger and starting to spread 4 at least one other organ
Grading system
1 resembles normal cells
2 don’t look normal and growing faster
3 look abnormal and growing/spreading
Two broad categories of genes for cancer
Gene overactivity (proto-onco) generally code for growth factor proteins become cancerous via mutation or Gene underactivity - tumor suppresion genes become less active (usually for apoptosis)
Cancer causes
Genes Epigenetics Molecular cellular pathways Microenvironment Carcinogensis
Carcinogenesis
Chemical, physical or biologic
Initation (genetic defect)
Promotion (agonization of growth)
Progression (development of worsening traits)
Host and environment factors
Age most important Heredity Hormones Immunological Chemical Radation Oncogenic viruses
Young people cancers
Due to rate of mitosis
Bone, leukemia, neuroblastoma
Immune system
Immune system can destroy cancer if it can recognize it, immunosuppresed more likely to get cancer
Chemicals
Indirect (metabolic conversin)
Free radicals react with DNA or RNA or with proteins they code for
Radiation
Ionizing and UV can displace electrons, create free radicals, break molecular bonds, damage DNA
Oncogenic Viruses
Insert into DNA and fuck shit up
HPV, EBV, HBV, HHV, HTLV
Local tissue issues cancer
Compression and erosion of blood vessels causing hemorrhage and hypoxia
Enzymes and toxins from cancer can destroy local cells
Produce effusions through seeding
50% of undiagnosed effusions are malignant
Systemic
Cachexia (general physical wasting muscle and all)
Anorexia
Probably from persistent inflammatory response
Fatigue and sleep disorders
Peripheral - NM apparatus fails to perform tasks in respons to central stimulation from lack of ATP from metabolic byproduct buildup
Central - difficult initiating voluntary activites caused by cytokine affection of serotonin
Anemia in cancer
By hemorrhage, hemolysis, impaired RBC production
Metabolic demands of growing tumor is one example of how RBC could be impaired
Paraneoplastic syndromes
S&S related to sites not directly affect by cancer
Production of hormones and mediators by neoplastic tissue fuck up hormones, blood, neuro, skin
(trousseaus syndrome is hyper coagulation)
Tumor Markers
Antigens on surface of tumor cells
Substances released from normal cells
Diagnostic methods for cytologic/histologic
Cell smears Biopsies Needle aspiration Immunohistochemistry Microarray (inserting gene markers that detect genes being expressed)
Radiation treatment
Ionize molecules and form free radicals
Better for faster dividing tissue
Used with surgery or chemo
Chemo
Systemic effects (radiation is localized) the effect is to target cell growth and replication
Targeted therapy
New and progressive, specific to cancer tissue, does not effect normal cells
EX targeting angiogensis and apoptosis pathways
