Oncology (Md-302)

Protein Markers

A protein found on the surface of cells that indicate cancer

Cancer

A condition of unrestrained and excessive growth of cells

Malignant Tumors

Tumors that compress, invade, and destroy surrounding tissue

Carcinogenesis

process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells

What causes cancer to begin?

Damage to DNA

Environmental Agents that Cause Cancer

chemicals, radiation, viruses

Oncogenes

genes that cause cancer

BRCA1-2

breast and ovarian cancer oncogene

TP53

tumor suppressor gene

APC

An oncogene for polyposis coli

VHL

Oncogene for renal cell carcinoma

RB1

Oncogene for retinoblastoma

WT1

Oncogene for Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma)

Carcinoma

a malignant tumor that occurs in epithelial tissue

Histogenesis

the formation and development of the tissues of the body

Sarcomas

Cancers that arise in the connective tissue cells

locations of carcinoma

• GI Tract
• Glandular Tissue
• Kidney and Bladder
• Lungs
• Reproductive Organs
• Skins

Locations of Sarcoma

• Bone
• Muscles
• Cartilage
• Fat
• Fibrous Tissue
• BV
• Blood
• Nervous Tissue

Mixed Tissue Tumor

tumor composed of different types of tissue (both epithelial and connective tissues)

Wilms Tumor

malignant tumor of the kidney that is both epithelial and CT

Teratoma

neoplasm of a testis or ovary containing multiple tissues from other sites in the body

Germ Cell Tumor

a type of neoplasm derived from germ cells of the gonads; may be found outside of the reproductive tract

• Mixed

Alveolar Tumor

tumor cells form patterns resembling small sacs

Carcinoma in situ

cancer in the early stage before invading surrounding tissue

Diffuse Tumors

not restricted to any one location

Dysplastic Tumor

containing abnormal-appearing cells that are not clearly cancerous

Epidermoid Tumor

resembling squamous epithelial cells (thin, plate-like); often occurring in the respiratory tract

Follicular Tumor

Forming small, round gland-type cluster sacs.

Papillary Tumor

Forming small, finger-like or nipple-like projections of cells.

Pleomorphic Tumors

The cells of malignant tumors often vary in size and shape

Scirrhous Tumor

Hard, densely packed tumor cells

Undifferentiated Tumors

Composed of cells whose origins are impossible to determine. Usually anaplastic in appearance and aggressive in behavior.

Grade (Tumor)

based on the degree of differentiation of the tumor cells

Stage (Tumor)

extent of spread in the body

Malignant melanoma

malignant tumor composed of melanocytes

• Carcinoma

Ewing Sarcoma

malignant tumor that develops from bone marrow, usually in long bones or the pelvis

Leukemia

cancer of white blood cells

• Sarcoma

Lymphoma

malignant tumor of lymph nodes and lymph tissue

• Sarcoma

Hodgkin's lymphoma

A sarcoma of the lymph node

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

cancer of the lymphatic tissues other than Hodgkin lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma

malignant tumor of plasma cells

International TNM Staging System

A standard for stages of cancer

TNM Stages of Lung Cancer

Lymph Nodes:

• N0 = No node
• N1 = Ipsilateral bronchopulmonary node or hilar node
• N2 = Ipsilateral mediastinal node/ligament
• N3 = Contralateral nodes
  Distant Metastasis:
• M0 = No metastasis
• M1 = Metastases present

Metastasis

The spread of cancer cells beyond their original site

Alopecia

hair loss

Fibrosis

Increase in CT

Mucositis

inflammation of the mucous membrane

Xerostomia

dry mouth

Side Effects of Rad Therapy

• Alopecia
• Fibrosis
• Infertile
• Mucositis
• Myelosuppression
• N/V
• Pneumonitis
• Secondary Tumors
• Xerostomia

adjuvant chemotherapy

chemotherapy given in addition to surgery

alkylating agents

synthetic chemicals containing alkyl groups that attack DNA

anaplasia

lack of differentiation

angiogensis

growth of new blood vessels

antibiotics

compounds that block the growth and reproduction of bacteria

antimetabolites

chemicals that prevent cell division by inhibiting formation of substances necessary to make DNA;

antimitotics

drugs that block cell division

apoptosis

programmed cell death

benign tumor (neoplasm)

a mass of abnormal cells that remains at the site of origin

Biological Therapy

treatment of cancer with biological response modifiers that work with the immune system

Brachytherapy

the use of radioactive materials in contact with or implanted into the tissues to be treated

Carcinogens

Cancer causing agents

Cellular Oncogenes

pieces of DNA that, when activated by mutations or by dislocation, can cause a normal cell to become malignant

Chemotherapy

the use of drugs to treat a disease

Combination Chemotherapy

use of several chemotherapeutic agents together for the treatment of tumors

Dedifferentation

loss of differentation of cells

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Gene material within a cell, controls cell division and protein synthesis

Differentiating Agents

drugs that promote tumor cells to differentiate, stop growing, and die

Differentiation

process in which cells become specialized in structure and function

Electron Beams

low-energy beams of radiation for treatment of skin or surface tumors

• Done by betatron
• Better for superficial tumors

Betatron

Device that uses electron beams to destroy tumors

Encapsulated

enclosed within a capsule, as with benign tumors

External Beam Irradiation

applying radiation to a tumor from a source outside the body

Fields

dimensions of the size of radiation area used to treat a tumor from a specific angle

Fractionation

giving radiation in small, repeated doses

Genetic Screening

process of testing DNA to determine the chance a person has, or might pass on, an oncogene

Grading Tumors

evaluating the degree of maturity of tumor cells

Gray (gy)

unit of absorbed radiation dose

• Equal to 100 rad

gross description of tumors

visual appearance of tumors to the naked eye

Hormonal Agents

Drugs given to treat cancers using hormones instead of traditional chemo

• Benefits breast cancer treatment
• Does better than chemo
• Can be given in combination

Infiltrative

extending beyond normal tissue boundaries into adjacent tissues

Invasive

having the ability to enter and destroy surrounding tissue

Irradiation

exposure to any form of radiant energy such as light, heat, or x-rays

Linear Accelerator

large electronic device that produces high-energy x-ray beams for treatment of deep-seated tumors

Malignant Tumor

An abnormal tissue mass that can spread into neighboring tissue and to other parts of the body; a cancerous tumor.

Mesenchymal

embryonic connective tissue

microscopic description of tumors

appearance of tumors when viewed under a microscope

Mitosis

cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes

Mixed-Tissue Tumors

tumors composed of different types of tissue

Modality

method of treatment

Molecularly Targeted Therapy

anticancer drugs designed to block the function of growth factors, their receptors, and signaling pathways in specific tumor cells

Morbidity

Refers to ill health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a population or group.

Mucinous

containing mucus

Mutation

A change in a gene or chromosome.

Nucleotide

A building block of DNA, consisting of a sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.

Palliative

relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder without effecting a cure

Pedunculated

Possessing a stem or stalk

Photon Therapy

radiation therapy using energy in the form of x-rays or gamma rays

Protocol

detailed plan for treatment of an illness

Proton Therapy

Use of protons produced by a cyclotron to deposit a dose of radiation at a tightly focused point in the body

• Used when conventional X-ray radiotherapy would damage nearby tissue

Radiation

Energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays of particles.