Tumour Pathology 2 Flashcards
What are the altered genetics associated with cancer?
Loss of tumour suppressor genes
Gain of function of oncogenes
What is the behaviour of cancer cells?
Unregulated growth
Loss of cohesion
Immaturity
Immortality
What are the properties of cancer
Mutate
Enable replicative mortality
Evade growth suppressors
Resist cell death
Mediate tumour associated inflammatory response
Avoid immune destruction
Invade and metastasize
Induce angiogenesis
Deregulate cellular genetics
Sustain proliferative signalling
MERMAID SEI
MEERMAIIDS
ARAMARD PEMI
Describe adhesion in cancer cells
Loss of cell-to-cell adhesion
Altered cell-to-matrix adhesion
What are the tumour biomarkers?
Tumour-related proteins
What are the different categories of tumour biomarkers?
Onco-fetal proteins
Oncogenes
Growth factors and receptors
What is the clinical utility of tumour biomarkers?
Screening
Diagnosis
Prognostic - identifying patients with a specific outcome
Predictive - identifying patients who will respond to a particular therapy
What is Pleomorphism
the variation in size and shape of cancer cells referred to as?
Is mitosis present in cancer cells?
Yes but is abnormal
What is tumour growth a balance between?
Angiogenesis
Apoptosis
What is angiogenesis?
New blood vessel formation by tumours, required to sustain tumour growth
What is the downside on human health brought about by angiogenesis?
Provides a route for release of tumour cells into circulation
What is the relationship between blood vessels and prognosis?
More blood vessels -poorer prognosis
What is involved in the response to chemo-radiotherapy?
Apoptosis
What is the major clinical problem of cancer?
Formation of metastatic (secondary) tumour
What is the effect of metastasis on matrix degradation by proteolytic enzymes?
Increased
What is the effect of metastasis on cell-to-cell cell-to-matrix adhesion?
It is altered
What are the various modes of spread of cancer?
Local
Lymphatic
Blood (haematogenous spread)
Trans-coelomic spread
What is the intermediate tissue for tumour invasion of lymph/blood vessels?
Connective tissue
What are the stages of metastasis via lymphatics?
Invade connective tissue
Enter lymphatic system
Travel through lymphatic system
Exit lymphatic system
Enter and grows in lymph node
What is Trans-coelomic spread?
Spread of tumour cells across the body cavities
Pleural or peritoneal cavities
Which organs show a Trans-coelomic spread?
Lung, stomach, colon and ovary
What are the common sites of metastasis?
Liver, lung, brain, bone (axial skeleton)
Adrenal gland, peritoneum
What are the uncommon sites for metastasis?
Spleen, kidney, skeletal muscles, heart
Relates to blood flow and the environmental factors of each organ
Where do breast? prostate? and colorectal cancer often metastasis to?
Bone
Bone
Liver
