Tumour Pathology 2 Flashcards
Give 2 properties of cancer cells in terms of altered genetics.
Tumour suppressor genes mutate so control of cell cycle lost
Oncogenes formation that stimulate excessive cell division
Give 4 properties of cancer cells relating to altered cellular function
Tumour related protein formation – used in clinical practise to diagnose tumour
Abnormal cell
Capable of independent irreversible growth
All cancer cells are different
Name the 4 tumour biomarkers
- onco-fetal protein
- oncogenes
- Growth factors and receptors
- immune checkpoint inhibitor
What types of cancer can the onco-fetal protein, alpha-fetoprotein be used to diagnose?
- teratomas of testis
- hepatocellular carcinoma
What type of cancer can the onco-fetal protein, carcino-embryonic antegen (CEA) be used to diagnose?
Colonorectal cancer (CRC)
What type of cancer can the onco-fetal protein, oestrogen receptor be used to diagnose?
Breast cancer
What type of cancer can the onco-fetal protein, prostate specific antigen be used to diagnose?
Prostate Cancer
What is an onco-fetal protein?
They are present only in fetal development but switched off after birth. In certain cancerous tumours they are produced again
What cancer the predictive tumour biomarker KRAS used for?
Colorectal cancer
What cancer the predictive tumour biomarker BRAF used for?
Melanoma
What cancer the predictive tumour biomarker HER2 used for?
Breast cancer
What cancer the predictive tumour biomarker EGFR used for?
Lung cancer
What cancer the predictive tumour biomarker PD-L1 used for?
Lung cancer
Morphology of cancer
Cellular and nuclear pleomorphism (differences in shape and nucleus of cancerous cells)
Abnormal mitoses (dark blob that contains chromosomes all lined up in metaphase for division)
T/F there is balance in tumour growth and death
True
How does the growth of cancer occur?
Angiogenesis
This is the formation of new blood vessels that provide nutrients for tumour to grow
Also allows tumour to disseminate and spread by providing pathway into circulation
How does the death of cancer occur?
Apoptoses
Active process where individual cancerous cells are induced to die
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy cause apoptosis of tumour
More apoptosis the more susceptible the tumour
What is the fundamental property of cancer?
Spread of cancer
What does invasion mean?
Spreading of cancer to nearby tissues
What does metastasis mean?
Spreading of cancer into other sides of the body
How to tumours invade and metastasise?
Cancer cells produce proteolytic enzymes that can degrade connective tissue allowing passage for cancer
Cancer stop sticking to other cells (less cell-cell adhesion)
Cancer stop sticking to connective tissue (less cell-matrix adhesion)
How do cancers metastasise?
Local spread (invasion) – tumour invades connective tissue and can enter blood vessels
Lymphatic spread – tumour stick to endothelium of lymph vessel and invade lymph nodes which provide good conditions for cancers to grow
Blood spread – tumour sticks to endothelium of blood vessel and can squeeze through it to enter tissue
Trans-coelomic spread – spread of tumours across body cavities e.g. pleural cavity and tumours that spread this way are lung, ovary, stomach
Where does tumour metastasise to?
More blood flow to a certain tissue doesn’t mean it is more susceptible to tumour spread
Depends on the actual tumour and the conditions provided by tissue (metastatic niche)
Common sites of tumour metastasis
liver, lung, brain, bone, adrenal gland
