Reviewer #3 Flashcards
a group of more than 200 diseases
characterized by uncontrolled and unregulated
growth of cells.
Cancer
Two (2) major dysfunctions in the process of cancer
development are
defective cell proliferation (growth)
and defective cell differentiation
are normal cell genes that are
important regulators of normal cell processes
Protooncogenes
Protooncogenes promote
cell growth.
Mutations that alter the expression of
protooncogenes can activate them to function as
oncogenes (tumor-inducing genes)
Tumor suppressor genes function to regulate
(suppress) cell growth
It involves a mutation in the cell’s genetic
structure.
Initiation
is characterized by the reversible
proliferation of the altered cells
Promotion
is characterized by increased growth
rate of the tumor, increased invasiveness, and
metastasis
Progression
(spread of the cancer to a distant site
metastasis
Substances considered/ suspected to be causing cancers
Carcinogens
Chemicals were identified as cancer-causing agents
in the latter part of the eighteenth century when
Percival Pott noted that
chimney sweeps had a
higher incidence of cancer of the scrotum
a multistep process beginning with the rapid
growth of the primary tumor.
Metastasis
As the tumor increases in size, development of its
own blood supply is critical to its survival and growth.
The process of the formation of blood vessels within
the tumor itself is termed tumor angiogenesis and is
facilitated by
tumor angiogenesis
involves several steps
beginning with primary tumor cells penetrating
blood vessels.
Hematogenous metastasis
In the lymphatic system, tumor cells may be
“trapped” in the first lymph node confronted or they
may bypass regional lymph nodes and travel to more
distant lymph nodes, a phenomenon termed
skip
metastasis.
The immune system has the potential to distinguish
cells that are
normal (self) from abnormal (nonself)
cells.
Cancer cells may display altered cell-surface antigens
as a result of malignant transformation. These
antigens are
tumor-associated antigens
(TAAS).
The immune system’s response to antigens of the
malignant cells 15 termed
immunologic
surveillance.
are able to directly lyse
tumor cells spontaneously without any prior
sensitization
Natural killer (NK) cells
The process by which cancer cells evade the immune
system is termed
immunologic escape.
are a type of tumor antigen.
They are found on both the surfaces and the inside
of cancer cells and fetal cells. These antigens are an
expression of the shift of cancerous cells to a more
immature metabolic pathway, an expression usually
associated with embryonic or fetal periods of life
Oncofetal Antigens
These oncofetal antigens can be used as ____ that may be clinically useful to monitor the
effect of therapy and indicate tumor recurrence.
Tumor markers are affected by various factors that
need to be accounted for when reviewing these
results.
tumor
markers
Tumors can be classified as
benign or malignant
, benign neoplasms are
well differentiated
malignant neoplasms
range from well
differentiated to undifferentiated.
is identified by the tissue of origin, the
anatomic site, and the behavior of the tumor.
Tumor
originate from embryonal ectoderm
(skin and glands) and endoderm (mucous membrane
linings of the respiratory tract, GI tract, and
genitourinary [GU] tract
Carcinomas
embryonal originate from mesoderm
(connective tissue, muscle, bone, and fat).
Sarcomas
leukemias originate from
hematopoietic system.
Lymphomas
Cells differ slightly from normal cells
(mild dysplasia) and are well differentiated (low
grade).
Grade I
Cell are more abnormal (moderate
dysplasia) and moderately differentiated
(intermediate grade).
Grade II
Cells are very abnormal (severe
dysplasia) and poorly differentiated (high grade).
Grade III
Cells are immature and primitive
(anaplasia) and undifferentiated; cell of origin is
difficult to determine (high grade).
Grade IV
Grade cannot be assessed.
Grade X
Classifying the extent and spread of disease is
termed
staging
Stage 0
Cancer in situ (in place)
Stage I
Tumor limited to the tissue of origin;
localized tumor growth
Limited local spread
Stage II
Extensive local and regional spread
Stage III
Metastasis
Stage IV
It is used to determine the anatomic extent of the
disease involvement according to three parameters:
tumor size and invasiveness (T), presence or absence
of regional spread to the lymph nodes (N), and
metastasis to distant organ sites (M).
TNM Classification System
refers to a neoplasm whose
cells are localized and show no tendency to invade or
metastasize to other tissues.
Carcinoma in situ (CIS)
refers to the extent of the disease as
determined by surgical excision, exploration, and/or
lymph node sampling.
Surgical staging
It is the removal of a tissue sample analysis. for
pathologic
Biopsy
Is commonly performed for
tissue that can be safely reached through the skin.
Percutaneous Biopsy
May be used for lung or other
intraluminal (esophageal, bladder). lesions colon
Endoscopic Biopsy
Involves the surgical removal of
the entire lesion, lymph node, nodule, or mass.
Excisional Biopsy
May be performed with a
scalpel or dermal punch. The Pathologies
examines the tissue to determine whether it is
benign or malignant, the anatomic tissue from
which the tumor arises (histology), and the
degree of cell differentiation (histologic grade).
Incisional
Biopsy
The goals of cancer treatment are
cure, control, and palliation.
Surgical intervention can be used to
eliminate or reduce the risk of cancer development.
Prophylactic removal of nonvital organs has been
successful in reducing the incidence of some
malignancies
Prevention
The objective is to remove all or as
much resectable tumor as possible while sparing
normal tissue.
Cure or Control
Debulking of tumor to
relieve pain or pressure
For the relief of a bowel obstruction
Colostomy
for the relief of a spinal cord
compression
Laminectomy
the use of chemicals as a systemic therapy for
cancer
Chemotherapy
delivers the drug to the
tumor via the arteries supplying the tumor.
Intraarterial chemotherapy
involves the delivery
of chemotherapy to the peritoneal cavity for
treatment of peritoneal metastases from primary
colorectal and ovarian cancers and malignant ascites
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy
involves a lumbar
puncture and injection of chemotherapy into the
subarachnoid space
intrathecal chemotherapy
involves
instillation of chemotherapy into the bladder
Intravesical chemotherapy bladder
includes anaphylactic and
hypersensitivity reactions, extravasation or a flare
reaction, anticipatory nausea and vomiting, and
cardiac dysrhythmias.
Acute toxicity
involve damage to organs such
as the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs.
Chronic toxicities
energy that is emitted from a source and
travels through space or some material.
Radiation
the most common form of radiation
treatment delivery. With this technique, the patient
is exposed to radiation from a megavoltage
treatment machine. A linear accelerator, which
generates ionizing radiation from electricity and can
have multiple energies, is the most commonly used
machine for delivering external beam radiation
EXTERNAL RADIATION: Teletherapy
Radiation can also be
delivered as Brachytherapy, which means “close” or
internal radiation treatment. It consists of the
implantation or insertion of radioactive materials
directly into the tumor (interstitial) or in close
proximity to the tumor (intracavitary or
intraluminal). This allows for direct delivery of
radiation to the target with minimal exposure to
surrounding healthy tissues.
INTERNAL RADIATION:
