Tumour Pathology 2

Question 1

What are the 4 properties of cancer cells?

Answer 1

• Altered Genetics
• Altered Cellular Functions
• Abnormal Morphology
• Cells capable of independant Growth.

Question 2

Explain the altered genetics of cancer cells:

Answer 2

• Loss of tumour supressor genes (that stop cell proliferation)
• Gain of oncogene function (genes that stop apoptosis)

Question 3

Explain the altered cellular function of cancer cells?

Answer 3

Tumour-related Proteins are produced

Question 4

What does abnormal morphology mean?

Answer 4

The cells have abnormal cell structure

Question 5

What changes about cancer cell adhesion?

Answer 5

Cancer cells can have:
- reduced cell-cell adhesion
- altered cell-matrix adhesion

Question 6

Give 3 examples of tumour biomarkers:

Answer 6

Oncogenes
Onco-foetal proteins
Growth factors & receptors

Question 7

What are the categories of tumor biomarkers?

Answer 7

• Screening for cancer in risk groups
• Diagnostic
• Prognostic
• Predictive

Question 8

What are diagnostic biomarkers used for?

Answer 8

Determining the type of tumour

Question 9

What are prognostic biomarker used for?

Answer 9

Prognostic tumour biomarkers are used to determine a patients outcome

Question 10

What are predictive biomarkers used for?

Answer 10

Predictive tumour biomarkers help us identify identify therapies the patient will respond to.

Question 11

Example of diagnostic biomarker?

Answer 11

Alpha-fetoprotein is a marker of testicular teratoma & hepatocellular carcinoma.

Question 12

Example of predictive biomarker?

Answer 12

OEstrogen receptors are monitored in breast cancer to identify the specific type and therefore what treatments will help.

Question 13

What is the changed appearence of cancer cells called?

Answer 13

Cellular & nuclear pleomorphism i.e. a marked difference in cell & nucleus size/shape

Question 14

What regulates tumour growth?

Answer 14

Angiogenesis & Apoptosis

Question 15

How does angiogenesis aid tumour growth?

Answer 15

New vessels supply oxygen and materials to tumour tissue.
Also provide a route for tumour cells to escape into circulation.
The more blood vessels in a tumour the poorer the prognosis

Question 16

How does cancer spread?

Answer 16

By invasion of adjacent tissue
And by metastasis (formation of secondary tumours)

Question 17

How does a tumour spread by invasion?

Answer 17

A multi-step process in which proteolytic enzymes degrade the matrix and the cell loses cell-cell & cell-matrix adhesion.

Question 18

What are the 4 kinds of cancer spread?

Answer 18

Locacl spread
Blood spread
Lymphatic spread
Trans-coelomic spread.

Question 19

How do tumours metastasise via lymphatics?

Answer 19

Tumour cells adhere to lymph vessels
Invade from lymph into the node
cancer cell sfiltered out by node and multiply there.

Question 20

What is trans-coelomic spread?

Answer 20

Spread of tumours across body cavities.
Tumours of lung, stomach, colon & ovary spread like this

Question 21

Site of metastasis arnt related to blood flow, what are they related to?

Answer 21

Sites of metastasis depend on tumour and tissue related factors

Question 22

What are common sites of metastasis?

Answer 22

Liver
Lung
Brain
Adrenal gland
Axial Skeleton

Question 23

What are some common sites of metastases for specific cancers?

Answer 23

Breast & prostate often metastasises to Bone.
Colorectal cancer often metastasises to liver.