Principles of Oncology Flashcards
Initiation
carcinogens induce DNA damage but not enough to induce neoplastic transformation
Promotion
original carcinogens or normal growth promoters/hormones cause reversible tissue & cellular changes
Progression
progressing agents are able to irreversibly convert an initiated cell into a cell exhibiting malignancy
6 Hallmarks of a cancer cell
- self-sufficiency in growth signals
- insensitivity to anti-growth signals
- tissue invasion & metastasis
- limitless replicative potential
- sustained angiogenesis
- evading apoptosis
Best way to establish tissue diagnosis
diagnostic cytopathology
DDx of Round Cells
-lymphoma
- mast cell tumor
- plasmacytoma
- histiocytoma
- TVT
(melanoma)
DDx of Mesenchymal Cells
Sarcomas
osteo-, chondro-, fibro-, hemangio-
DDx of Epithelial cells
Carcinomas
squamous cells, adeno-, undifferentiated
Characteristics of Malignancy
- Homogenous (cancer) vs Heterogenous (inflammatory)
- Monomorphic vs Pleomorphic (variable morphology- malignancy)
- cellular/cytoplasmic criteria- anisocytosis, hyperchromasia (basophilic) of cytoplasm
- nuclear criteria
Nuclear Criteria
anisokaryosis (variation in size), multiple nucleoli, increased mitosis
Cytopathology is ______ specific and ______ sensitivity
highly, low
Staging
Answers the question: is the tumor localized, spread regionally, or diffusely
Grading
- requires biopsy tissue
- establishes inherent aggressiveness of tumor using systematic approaches
Classic Staging Tests
- MDB (CBC/Chem/T4/UA/FIV& Felv)
- Regional LN cytology
- three-view thoracic met check
- abdominal ultrasound +/- FNA
- cross sectional imaging (CT/MRI)
Minimum threshold size of tumor to be seen on radiographs
7-9 mm
