Neoplasms and Cancer

neoplasm 

a tumor, a cellular growth that is no longer responding to normal body controls

benign

tumor of undifferentiated cells that reproduce at higher than normal rate but do not spread

malignant

tumor of undifferentiated, nonfunctional cells that reproduce rapidly, infiltrate surrounding areas, and may spread by metastases to other organs and tissues

carcinoma

malignant tumor of epithelial cells

sarcoma 

malignant tumors of connective tissues 

anaplasia

growth of undifferentiated cells varying size and shape

differentiation

each cell type differentiates and carries out specific functions, structure reflects the function

mitosis 

part of the cell cycle, cell division, requires genetic control (DNA, RNA) 

apoptosis

programmed cell death, controlled by genetic elements, normal part of maintaining homeostasis

neoplasms/tumors

cellular growth that no longer responds to normal genetic controls, continues to reproduce even though there is no need, deprives other cells, may consist of atypical or immature cells

characteristics of tumors depend on 

type of cell the tumor came from and unique structure and growth pattern 

benign tumors named by

tissue name plus the suffix -oma (adenoma)

malignant tumors are named by 

tissue name plus suffix -carcinoma (adenocarcinoma) 

tumors of connective tissues are called

sarcoma

fat benign and malignant tumors would be called 

lipoma, liposarcoma 

liver benign and malignant tumors would be called 

hepatoma, hepatocarcinoma 

skin benign and malignant tumors would be called

epithelioma, carcinoma/melanoma

benign tumors 

usually differentiated cells that reproduce at a higher rate than normal, encapsulated, tissue damage (result of compression of adjacent structures), life-threatening in the brain 

malignant tumors

undifferentiated, nonfunctional cells, rapid reproduction, infiltrate and spread to surrounding tissue, spreads to distant sites, lack control of mitosis and do not undergo apoptosis, no normal organization, do no adhere to each other, abnormal membranes

effects of a malignant tumor

mass compresses blood vessels (necrosis), tumor may secrete enzymes or hormones (systemic effects), inflammation and loss of normal cells, angiogenesis (new capillary development)

local effects of tumors 

pain (absent until late stage, tumor is advanced, severity depends on type of tumor), obstruction (compressing ducts or passageways), tissue necrosis and ulceration (bleeding or infection around the tumor) 

spreading of malignant tumors

invasion (local spread into adjacent tissues), metastasis (spread to distant sites via blood or lymph)

systemic effects of malignant tumors

weight loss and cachexia (increase demands on body from tumor), anemia, severe fatigue, effusions (inflammation causing fluid buildup in body cavities), infections, bleeding, paraneoplastic syndrome 

paraneoplastic syndrome

associated with certain tumor types, tumor cells release substances that affect neurological function and may have hormonal effects 

staging of cancer

essential to standardize comparative studies of treatments and outcomes, used to estimate prognosis, most common systems used is the TNM system (size of Tumor, Involvement of lymph nodes, Metastasis of tumor)

grading of cancer

a reflection of the degree of differentiation or undifferentiation (degree of malignancy) of the tumor cells

carcinogenesis 

processes where normal cells are transformed into cancer cells, varies greatly with respect to time, multifactorial (environmental, gene expressions, infection) 

carcinogenesis stages - initiating factor

procarcinogens cause the first irreversible change in cellular DNA, do not create active neoplasms

carcinogenesis stages - exposure to promoters

includes hormones and environmental chemicals, cause further changes in DNA, less differentiation and increased rate of mitosis, lack of apoptosis, leads to further tumor development

prophylactic treatment 

used to prevent metastases, used with cancers that are known to metastasize early in development

radiation therapy effects

bone marrow depressions, decreased leukocytes (increased risk of infection), decreased erythrocytes (fatigue, tissue breakdown), decreased platelets (excessive bleeding), epithelial cell damage (hair loss), infertility, nonspecific fatigue and lethargy

chemotherapy

antineoplastic drugs, drugs interfere with protein synthesis and/or DNA replication (antimiotics, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, antibiotics)

effects of chemotherapy 

bone marrow depression, nausea, epithelial cell damage, and damage to specific areas 

“cancer-free state”

a 5-year survival without recurrence

remission

no clinical signs of cancer

chemical exposure risk factor could lead to

asbestos - lung cancer

a diet risk factor could be and could lead to 

a high fat diet could lead to colon cancer 

malignant tumor cells cause systemic effects like altered calcium levels due to

tumor cells may secrete enzymes or hormones

what is the process where tumor cells secrete growth factors that stimulate the development of new capillaries in the tumor

angiogenesis

benign tumor effects on cells 

similar in appearance to normal cells, differentiated, mitosis normal 

malignant tumor effects on cells

varied in size and shape with large nuclei, many undifferentiated, mitosis increased and atypical nuclei present

a malignant bone tumor is called

osteosarcoma

if a mutation occurs in a parents cells DNA, what will happen to the offspring cells 

they may carry the mutation if the mutation is in the germ cell