Tumour Pathology 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 properties of cancer cells?

A
  • Altered Genetics
  • Altered Cellular Functions
  • Abnormal Morphology
  • Cells capable of independant Growth.
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2
Q

Explain the altered genetics of cancer cells:

A
  • Loss of tumour supressor genes (that stop cell proliferation)
  • Gain of oncogene function (genes that stop apoptosis)
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3
Q

Explain the altered cellular function of cancer cells?

A

Tumour-related Proteins are produced

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4
Q

What does abnormal morphology mean?

A

The cells have abnormal cell structure

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5
Q

What changes about cancer cell adhesion?

A

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

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6
Q

Give 3 examples of tumour biomarkers:

A

Oncogenes
Onco-foetal proteins
Growth factors & receptors

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7
Q

What are the categories of tumor biomarkers?

A
  • Screening for cancer in risk groups
  • Diagnostic
  • Prognostic
  • Predictive
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8
Q

What are diagnostic biomarkers used for?

A

Determining the type of tumour

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9
Q

What are prognostic biomarker used for?

A

Prognostic tumour biomarkers are used to determine a patients outcome

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10
Q

What are predictive biomarkers used for?

A

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

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11
Q

Example of diagnostic biomarker?

A

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

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12
Q

Example of predictive biomarker?

A

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

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13
Q

What is the changed appearence of cancer cells called?

A

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

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14
Q

What regulates tumour growth?

A

Angiogenesis & Apoptosis

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15
Q

How does angiogenesis aid tumour growth?

A

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

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16
Q

How does cancer spread?

A

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

17
Q

How does a tumour spread by invasion?

A

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

18
Q

What are the 4 kinds of cancer spread?

A

Locacl spread
Blood spread
Lymphatic spread
Trans-coelomic spread.

19
Q

How do tumours metastasise via lymphatics?

A

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

20
Q

What is trans-coelomic spread?

A

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

21
Q

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

A

Sites of metastasis depend on tumour and tissue related factors

22
Q

What are common sites of metastasis?

A

Liver
Lung
Brain
Adrenal gland
Axial Skeleton

23
Q

What are some common sites of metastases for specific cancers?

A

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