Oncology Flashcards
Give 3 examples of common paraneoplastic syndromes
- Cachexia
- Thromboses
- Haemorrhage
- Hypercalcaemia
- Lymphocyte level changes
What is a histiocytoma
A benign tumour from histiocytes (Langerhan’s cells) in the skin - more common i young animals
Well differentiated neoplasms are more likely to be benign - T/F?
True
Malignant tumours ofte have poor cellular differentiation
What is the growth fraction of a tumour?
This is the number of cells undergoing division (how many are cycling)
Which part of the cell cycle is primarily targeted by:
- radiation
- chemotherapy
- The M phase (mitosis)
- S phase
What are heterogenous clones
These are the cancer cells that develop the ability for metastasis
Links to protease production which dissolves basement membranes of vessels to allow intravasation (lymphatic vessels don’t have a BM so are easier to invade)
Which breeds are associated with:
- Localised and disseminated histiocytic sarcomas
- Haemangiosarcomas
- Mast cell tumours
- Osteosarcoma of appendicular skeleton
- Flat coated retreivers and Bernese mountain dogs
- GSDs and retrievers
- Boxers, pugs and golden retrievers
- Giant breeds
Give 3 examples of oncogenic viruses
- FeLV - lymphoma/leukaemia complex
- FSV - fibrosarcomas
- Sheep pulmonary adenomatosis virus
- Marek’s disease in chickens (lymphoma of feather follicle)
- Myxo in rabbits
- Benign papilloma (may become a carcinoma in dogs)
- Equine sarcoids
Draw a table to compare and contrast benign and malignant tumours
See notes page 4
What is the cell origin of sarcomas?
Mesenchymal
What is the pathogenesis of feline injection site sarcomas
They are the result of chronic inflammation (usually after a vaccine)
Leading to osteopathy as a paraneoplastic lesion
What stain is commonly used for histopath of mast cell tumours?
Toludine blue - stains the granules (but tumours can be without them and still be MCT)
What are the standard names for tumours of:
- Endothelium
- Smooth muscle
- Skeletal muscle
- Dendritic cells
- Haemangio-
- Rhabdomyo-
- Leiomyo-
- Histio-
What are the most common visceral sites for metastasis
Lungs, liver, kidney and spleen
after LNs
Which cell origin type of tumours often locally invade an then metastasise to internal organs late in disease
Mesenchymal
Which cell origin type of tumours often locally invade and then metastasise via lymphatic routes to local LNs
Epithelial
What are the 4 clinical stages of tumour invasion
T(is) - in situ - so hasn’t invaded the basement membrane yet
T(1) - superficial tumour of <2cm depth
T(3) - Tumour >5cm diameter or with invasion of the subcutis
T(4) - invading other structures
Draw a diagram of the basic lymphatic drainage in the dog
Notes pg 9
Which tumour types have a particular predilection for lung metastases
Carcinomas and sarcomas
What are the minimum sizes of tumour generally detected in radiograph and CT
Radiograph - 5mm
CT - 2mm
What the most common sites for MCT metastases
Liver and spleen
What are the 6 main capabilities that cancer cells acquire through mutations
- Self sufficiency in growth signals
- insensitivity to anti-growth systems
- Limitless potential to replicate
- Evasion of apoptosis
- Sustained angiogenesis
- Tissue invasion and metastasis
Why is the growth fraction of a tumour so important?
Because most cytotoxic drugs act by interfering with the process of cell division and are therefore only active against dividing cells
How do vinca alkaloid drugs work?
They inhibit the formation of the mitotic spindle
What are the 3 main cytological features groups of malignancy
1) Cell population - densely cellular population and degree of pleomorphism
2) Cell size - large cell size, poorly differentiated cells and high nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio
3) Nuclear features - size, shape, number, nucleoli and chromatin appearance
What are the main limitations of cytology vs histology
- In many cases cytology will not provide a definitive diagnosis
- You cannot grade a tumour based on it
- Some tumours exfoliate poorly and hence you will get very few cells
- You cannot understand tissue architecture
What are the 3 key physical signs of local invasion
- Diffuse, indistinct borders betwee normal tissue and tumour
- Fixation of the tumour mass in one or more planes
- Thickening of adjacent tissue
What are the potential consequences of neoplastic invasion of the BM
- Non regenerative anaemia
- Thrombocytopaenia
- Leukopaenia
What are some of the potential indirect effects on haematopoeisis by cancer cells?
- Oestrogen producing tumours can suppress BM function
- Myelofibrosis (fibrotic bone marrow)
Why might you get haemorrhage associated with tumours?
- Haemorrhage from the tumour itself (internal or external)
- GI ulcerations due to hyperhistaminaemia or hypergastrinaemia
- Secondary to a bleeding disroder
Why might you get hyperviscosity syndromes associated with cancer - and what clinical signs might you expect?
Can be linked to
- Excess numbers of circulating cells such as in forms of leukaemia
- Renal tumour producing EPO
- Hypergammaglobulinaemia (linked to multiple myeloma)
Clinical signs include:
- Lethargy, ataxia, tremors, seizures, weakness, TBE, retinal detachment
Give 3 examples of tumours that can directly lead to endocrinopathies
- Adrenal tumpurs can lead to hyper-AC
- Thyroid tumours can lead to hyper-T, and primary hyper-PT if they involve the parathyroid gland
- Pancreatic beta cell tumours can cause hypoglycaemia (insulinoma)
- Pancreatic gastrin producing neoplasms can cause hypergastrinaemia
What tumours can lead to hypercalcaemia and what are the clinical signs
Can be caused by:
- Lymphoid tumours, myeloid tumours, anal gland adenocarcinomas, solid tumours with skeletal metastases and other solid tumour
Clinical signs
- PU/PD, anorexia and vomiting (due to slowing down of gut), dehydration, muscle weakness and tremor (due to neuromuscular depression), bradycardia
What tumours can lead to hypoglycaemia and what are the clinical signs
Can be caused by:
- Insulinoma, hepatic tumours, especially hepatocellular carcinoma, other tumours, especially large intra-abdominal ones
Clinical signs
- Episodic weakness, collapse, disorientation and seizures
What tumour is most likely to cause hyperhistaminaemia and what are the clinical signs
Mast cell tumours Clinical signs: - GI ulceration - Anorexia - Vomiting and haematemesis - Melaena and anaemia
Which hormone is key for lowering body calcium
Calcitonin
Hypercalcaemia of malignancy is much more common in the dog than the cat - T/F?
True
Osteosarcoma is a common cause of hypercalcaemia of malignancy - T/F?
False - it doesn’t tend to have a profound effect on calcium
What is the common management for hypercalcaemia of malignancy?
- Restore circulating volume with normal saline - corrects deficit and helps slower excretion of calcium
- Diuretics - once properly rehydrated
- Can try bisphosphonates but they are expensive and quite toxic so not first choice
- Then identify and treat inciting cause
What substances can be produced by mast cell tumours?
Histamine, heparin, proteases and other vasoactive amines
What symptoms can you get associated with MCT?
- Oedema, erythema and pruritus of the tumour and surrounding area
- Tendency to bleed locally (due to heparin)
- Delayed wound healing or wound breakdown following surgery (due to proteases)
How can mast cell tumours lead to GI ulceration?
And how can we prevent/treat it?
If there is chronic release of histamine by the tumours, it stimulates the H2 receptors leading to hyperacidity, hypermotility, dilation of gastric blood vessels and increased endothelial permeability
Clinical signs include vomiting and mild anorexia but can progres to haematemesis, anaemia and the gut can even perforate and lead to peritonitis
Give H1 and H2 antagonists as treatment/prevention - e.g. cimetidine and ranitidine