Oncology Basics Flashcards

1
Q

What is cancer?

A

Changes in a single renegade cell that gives rise to uncontrolled, unorganized, and purposeless growth of that cell line
Any cell in body

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2
Q

Malignant cell properties (6 things)

A
Self-sufficiency in growth signals
Insensitivity to anti-growth signals
Evasion of apoptosis
Limitless replicative potential 
Sustained angiogenesis
Tissue invasion and metastasis
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3
Q

What is Malignant Transformation?

A

Mutation or epigenetic change: altering the genetic code of a somatic cell endowing it with limitless replicative potential or another growth or survival advantage

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4
Q

3 Events That Lead to Malignant Transformation

A

Initiation: initial change

Promotion: more mutations or changes, can be stimulated by initiating agent or normal growth factors or hormones (ex: Sun)

Progression: more mutaitons towards more malignant phenotype (population of cancer cells doing this to themselves)

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5
Q

Malignant Transformation: Change that leads to aberrant differentiation (4)

A

Activation of oncogenes (normal cellular protein, mutation or viral DNA integration into host genome results in activation)

Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes

Altered repair capacity of DNA (genetic mutation)

Defective apoptosis

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6
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Differentiation

A

Benign: well differentiated, organized like tissue of origin

Malignant: undifferentiated, cells lack organization

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7
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Boundaries

A

Benign: Defined, can be encapsulated

Malignant: Poorly defined, invasive (infiltrative lipoma b/c not encapsulated)

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8
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Mitosis

A

Benign: Rare

Malignant: Common

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9
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Rate of growth

A

Benign: Slow

Malignant: Fast (aggressive)

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10
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Clinical Results

A

Benign: Local compression, hormone production, disfigurement

Malignant: Local destruction, local compression, tumor necrosis, hormone production, disfigurement, metastasis into vital organs

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11
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Epithelial Glandular Origin

A

Benign: Adenoma

Malignant: Adenocarcinoma

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12
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Epithelial Surface Origin

A

Benign: Polyp, epithelioma, pappilloma

Malignant: Carcinoma

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13
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Connective Tissue Origin

A

Benign: Tissue type + oma (fibroma)

Malignant: Tissue type + sarcoma (osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma)

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14
Q

Benign vs Malignant:

Hemolymphatic

A

Benign: None

Malignant: Leukemia
& Lymphoma/lymphosarcoma

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15
Q

Tumor Growth

A

Initially there is high growth factor and mitotic index, short DT

As tumor grows there is low growth factor and mitotic index, prolonged DT

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16
Q

Diagnosis: Sex Predisposition

A

Males: benign perianal adenomas (intact), testicular tumors (intact), prostate (castrate), osteosarcoma

Females: ovarian, uterine, vaginal, mammary, transitional cell carcinoma

Cats often do not have sex predispositions

17
Q

Diagnosis: Physical Exam

A

Examine entire animal not just the obvious problem area

Evidence of pain (lameness, visceral pain, cancer however is not always painful)

Evidence of organ dysfunction (neurologic, icterus, diarrhea, can’t urinate)

18
Q

Diagnosis: Plan

A

CBC, Chem, UA (evaluate all organs)

Chest radiographs (common place for metastisis and many things can hide in chest)

Ultrasound, CT, MRI

Note: presence of a mass does NOT diagnose cancer (could be a cyst, granuloma, abcess)

19
Q

Diagnosis: Cytology

A

Aspiration and/or tattoo (move needle around while in the mass)

Not always diagnostic

Before sending slide off make sure there are cells on the slide

20
Q

Diagnosis: Cytology

Criteria for Malignancy

A
Anisokaryosis
Anisocytosis
Multiple, irregular, large nucleoli 
Multinucleation 
Mitotic figures
Altered/variable N:C ratio
21
Q

Diagnosis: Cytology

3 Basic Cell Types

A

Epithelial Cells
Mesenchymal Cells
Round Cells

22
Q

Diagnosis: Cytology

Epithelial Characteristics

A

Adenomas, Adenocarcionomas

Exfoliate in clumps
Cell-to-cell attachments
Cell walls visible

23
Q

Diagnosis: Cytology

Round Cells Characteristics

A

Lymphosarcoma, Mast cell, TVT, some Melanomas

Exfoliate singly
Cell walls easily visible
Round cells with round nuclei

24
Q

Diagnosis: Cytology

Mesenchymal Characteristics

A

Soft tissue sarcomas, Osteosarcoma

Exfoliate poorly
Cell borders indistinct
Cells elongate and spindle-shaped (banana)
Nucleus elongated

25
Q

True or False: A definitive diagnosis can be made from a cytology

A

False

26
Q

True or False: It is okay to poke the bladder for cytology if there is a mass present

A

True

Do not worry about seeding
We take samples from spleen and liver and exit through the peritoneum so why not the bladder

27
Q

Diagnosis: Histopathology

Incisional

A

Removal of a small portion of the tumor

Important when treatment would be altered by knowing tumor type or other characteristics

28
Q

Diagnosis: Histopathology

Excisional

A

Removal of entire tumor in one procedure

29
Q

Incisional Biopsy

Advantages

A

Try and get a bigger piece

Does not require anesthesia (maybe a local block)
Provides diagnosis to next step; planning
Less likely to contaminate clean tissue

30
Q

Incisional Biopsy

Disadvantages

A

Requires a second procedure for treatment

Could end up being non-diagnostic

31
Q

Excisional Biopsy

What is it?

A

Removal of entire tumor however extent of tumor must be known prior to surgery (typing can help with this) - cytology could give type

Mast cell tumors and sarcomas: large resection needed

Benign or low grade tumors do not require large resection area

32
Q

Excisional Biopsy

Advantages

A

Biopsy and therapy can be achieved in a single procedure

33
Q

Excisional Biopsy

Disadvantages

A

Anesthesia needed

Requires careful planning to avoid a second surgery or an angry owner; if not all debulked can come back with avenges

34
Q

What neoplasia is diagnostic via cytology?

A

Lymphoma