Tumour pathology 2 + Flashcards
Properties of cancer cells
- Altered cellular function
- Abnormal morphology
- Cells capable of independent growth
- Tumour biomarkers.
- Loss of tumour suppressor genes.
- Gain of function of oncogenes
what is the clinical use of Alpha-fetoprotein as a tumour biomarker?
- Teratoma of testis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (Liver)
what is the clinical use of Carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) as a tumour biomarker?
•Colorectal cancer
what is the clinical use of Oestrogen receptor as a tumour biomarker?
•Breast cancer
what is the clinical use of Prostate specific antigen as tumour biomarker?
•Prostate cancer
Biomarker - Tumour table
what are the clinically useful Predictive biomarkers?
How is tumour growth balanced
- Angiogenesis
- Apoptosis
Tumour Angiogenesis
- New blood vessel formation by tumours
- Required to sustain tumour growth
- Provides route for release of tumour cells into circulation
- More blood vessels in a tumour = poorer prognosis
Apoptosis
- Mechanism of programmed single cell death
- Active cell process
- Regulates tumour growth
- Involved in response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Mode of cancer spread
- Local spread
- Lymphatic spread
- Blood spread
- Trans-coelomic spread (body cavities)
how does cancer spread locally?►
Malignant tumour invasion of connective tissue and then Invasion into lymph/blood vessels.
how does cancer spread via Blood?►
- Adherence of tumour cells to blood vessels
- Invasion from blood vessels
- Invasion into tissue
- Formation of metastasis.
how the cancer spread via Trans-coelomic? ►
- Special form of local spread
- Spread of tumour cells across body cavities e.g. pleural or peritoneal cavities
- Tumours of lung, stomach, colon and ovary show trans-coelomic spread
what are the common sites of metastasis?
- Liver
- Lung
- Brain
- Bone –Axial skeleton
- Adrenal gland
- Omentum (a layer of peritoneum that surrounds abdominal organs)
what are the Uncommon Sites
Of Metastasis?
- Spleen
- Kidney
- Skeletal muscle
- Heart
Table
