Unit 2: Cancer & its classification Flashcards
What are the 4 major solid types of cancers
Breast, lung, colorectal and prostate
What are 5 major catatgories of cancer type?
Carcinoma - epithelial tissue
Sarcoma - Mesenchymal tissue e.g
connective/supportive tissue
Leukemia - White blood cells
Lymphoma/myeloma - cells of immune system
Neuroectodermal - CNS derived
What is an adenocarcinoma
Arises from SECRETORY GLANDULAR epithelium e.g - lung, breast, prostate, colon
What is a squamous carcinoma
Arise from the PROTECTIVE squamous epithelium e.g - keratinocytes from skin
List mesenchymal cells/tissue which can give rise to sarcoma’s
Bone (osteoclasts), fat (adipocytes), muscle, tendon, cartilige
What are the 4 main characteristics of benign tumours
- Localised to one area usually contained within a
fibrous, connective tissue capsue. - Doesnt invade into surrounding tissue or spread
- Slow growing
- Cells are very homogenous within the tuumour
What are 6 microscopic characteristics of benign tumours
- Regular organised cell arrangement
- Stain normally
- show some features of normal specialised funtion
- Normal nuclear morphology
- Slow growing (slow mitotic rate)
- NEVER INVADE THROUGH THEIR CAPSULE
Name a disease associated with a benign tumour
Cushings disease - Benign tumour in pituitary gland secretes excess Adreno-corticotrophic hormone (ACTH) = produces too much cortisol
Name some characteristics of malignant tumours
- No fibrous capsule
- not localised or self contained
- poorly defined borders
- necrotic/ulcerated areas
- highly proliferative
- high metabolic rate
- stimulate angiogenesis
- have invading cells at tumour margin
What does pleomorphic mean
Dense nuclei which var in shape and size
Is there a stage inbetween benign and malignant? Name an example
Yes = pre-malignant disease
in the transformation zone in the cervix (seen via smear test and PAP stain) is able to identify dysplastic cells (have large neclei and variable size) - when dysplasia becomes severe and proliferative this is known as a pre-malignant phase.
List the order of cellular transformation from a benign to malignant state
- normal cells
- Hyperplasia (benign)
- Dysplasia, but cells still within basement membrane
- Severe dysplasia (pre-malignant)
- Invasive and malignant = highly proliferative
Why is the classification of cancer important
Because tumours of the same organ can vary greatly = inter-tumour heterogeneity
What is tumour staging
reflects the tumours spread and size
What is tumour grade
Reflects the tumours histological appearences & proliferation capacity when examined unnder the microscope
What is staging used for
used to evaluate the extent of the spread (nvasiveness)
Why is tumour staging valuble clinically
- Provides common language for clinicians to
catagorize tumour - helps with patients prognosis
- helps to decide treatment approach for patient
What parameters does staging use
C - clinical (talking to patients/scans)
P - pathological measurments (microscopy)
Surgical parameters - tells us extent of tumour spread
What is the TNM classification system
Used for solid tumours
T = Size of primary tumour (1,2,3,4)
N = Extent of spread into neighbouring lymph nodes
(N1,N2,N3)
M = extent of metastasis (M1 - distant metastasis)
What is metastatic organotropism
When a specific cancer has a preferred site for metastasis
What site does prostate cancer prefer to metastasise to?
Bone and lymph nodes
What are common sites of metastasis for cancers
Bone. Lung, Liver
What are the staging catagories and what do they mean?
I. Cancer localised to primary site (early)
II. Early locally advanced cancer (spread only to
surrounding tissue)
III. Late, locally-advanced cancer (spread into regional
lymph nodes
IV. Cancer has distant spread (metastasis, advanced)
Why is staging important
It helps to gauge a patients prognosis and helps to decide, on treatment. Restaging cancers is also used to help monitor if a cancer has responded to treatment.
