CANCER

TUMOR

This refers to lump, mass, or swelling; can be neoplastic mass or accumulation of fluid only.

NEOPLASM

New growth or tumor derived from previously normal cells undergoing neoplastic changes in which its behavior is more or less dependent of the host.

NEOPLASM

Abnormal type of growth unresponsive to normal growth control mechanism.

NEOPLASM

Abnormal mass of tissue that serves no useful purpose and may harm the host organism.

MALIGNANT

Harmful mass, capable of invasion, metastasis

BENIGN

Harmless; does not spread or invade other tissues

HYPERTROPHY

Increase in cell size resulting in an increase in organ size.

HYPERPLASIA

Reversible increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue.

METAPLASIA

Conversion of one cell type to another cell type not usually found in the involved tissue.

DYSPLASIA

Characterized by abnormal changes in the size, shape, or organization of cells.

CANCER

Any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division.

CANCER

A disorder in which some of the body's cells lose the ability to control growth.

CANCER

A disease in which some body cells grow and divide uncontrollably, damaging the parts of the body around them.

HYPERTROPHY

increase in cell size

ONCOLOGY

Specialty that deals with diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer.

CELL PROLIFERATION

The act of a single cell or group of cells to reproduce and multiply in number

CELL PROLIFERATION

Process of increasing cell numbers by mitotic division

CELL PROLIFERATION

Uncontrolled growth with ability to metastasize and destroy tissue, and cause death

CELL PROLIFERATION

An inherent adaptive mechanism of replacing body cells when old cells die or additional cells are needed.

INTRACELLULAR MECHANISM

Mechanism that controls cellular proliferation

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Cellular proliferation is activated only in the process of cellular death or if the body has a physiologic need for more cells.

CONTACT INHIBITION

The cessation of cell division in response to contact with other cells

CONTACT INHIBITION

A process that stops additional cell growth when cells become crowded

CONTACT INHIBITION

Normal somatic cells will become growth inhibited when they encounter another cell.

LABILE CELLS

Cells that constantly regenerate through mitosis, particularly epithelial cells of the skin, GI tract, and urinary tract, and blood cells in the bone marrow.

SKIN, GI TRACT, URINARY TRACT, BLOOD CELLS

Common locations of labile cells

STABLE CELLS

Cells that stop regenerating when growth is complete but can resume regeneration if injured

STABLE CELLS

Cells that normally stop dividing when growth ceases but are capable of undergoing regeneration with appropriate stimuli.

PERMANENT/FIXED CELLS

Can't divide or be regenerated once destroyed, they can be replaced by fibrous tissue

Nerve cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac cells

CELL DIFFERENTIATION

The process by which a cell becomes specialized for a specific structure or function.

CELL DIFFERENTIATION

The process of specialization whereby new cells acquire the structure and functions of the cells they replace.

WELL-DIFFERENTIATED CELLS

Cells that are no longer capable of mitosis. They look and act like the parent cell or cell of origin.

NERVE CELLS

Most highly specialized cell of the body

MYOCARDIAL CELLS

An example of well-differentiated cell that can be replaced by scare tissue when damaged.

PROGENITOR/PARENT CELLS

Undifferentiated cells that are ready to differentiate and replace cells that cannot actively proliferate

PROGENITOR/PARENT CELLS

These are cells that are of the same lineage as a permanent cell, but they have not fully differentiated so they can still divide when necessary - but do not do so unless stimulated.

PROGENITOR/PARENT CELLS

Cells that continue to divide and bear offspring, but is has a limited capacity; can produce only a single type of cell.

STEM CELLS

Cells that remain incompletely differentiated throughout lifespan.

STEM CELLS

Reserve cells which can be stimulated to enter the cell cycle and become a parent cell if there is a need for cell renewal.

CELL CYCLE

Refers to the interval between cell division; it regulates the duplication of genetic information.

CELL CYCLE

Begins when a cell is produced through the division of the parent cell and ends when a cell dies or when a cell divides to produce offspring/daughter cells.

G1 PHASE

The first gap, or growth phase, of the cell cycle, consists of the portion of interphase before DNA synthesis begins.

S phase

The synthesis phase of the cell cycle; the portion of interphase during which DNA is replicated.

G2 phase

The second growth phase of the cell cycle consists of the portion of interphase after DNA synthesis occurs and before mitosis.

MITOSIS

Cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes ( two daughter cells)

G0 phase

A nondividing state occupied by cells that have left the cell cycle, sometimes reversibly.

CELLULAR TRANSFORMATION AND DERANGEMENT THEORY

States that cancer develops as a result of genetic alteration from one or more causes, resulting in uncontrolled cellular reproduction and growth.

IMMUNE THEORY OF CANCER CONTROL

States that cancer cells continuously form within the body. The immune system perceives them as foreign and destroys them, particularly the cell-mediated response, however certain conditions either cause a breakdown or overwhelm the immune system resulting in malignant cells reproducing more rapidly than the immune system can destroy them.

PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISEASE
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS
RADIATION EXPOSURE
AGING PROCESS

It has been observed that there is a higher incidence of cancer in persons with inadequate immune response.

TUMOR BURDEN

Number of cells present in the tumor

TRUE

TRUE/FALSE: Tumor mass should be at least 1 cm in size before it can be detected by present conventional diagnostic methods.

1. INITIATION
2. LATENCY
3. PROGRESSION
4. INVASION

Stages of cancer development

INITIATION

Begins with the exposure of body to carcinogens

INITIATION

An irreversible alteration in the cell's genetic structure resulting from the action of the chemical, physical or biological agent.

ONCOGENESIS

The genetic mechanism whereby normal cells are transformed into cancer cells.

ONCOGENES

Genes cause cancer by blocking the normal controls of cell reproduction. They can trigger cancer cell growth when activated by carcinogens.

PROTO-ONCOGENES

Normal cellular genes are important regulators of normal cellular processes, promoting growth. It gives rise to growth factors and proliferation. Alterations in the expression of these cells result in oncogenes.

ANTI-ONCOGENES

Tumor suppressor genes; cancer suppressor genes

MISMATCH REPAIR GENES

Genes that repair mutated DNA

APOPTOSIS GENES

Genes involved in signaling 'programmed cell death' are often mutated

1. PROTO-ONCOGENE
2. ANTI ONCOGENE
3. MISMATCH REPAIR GENES
4. APOPTOSIS GENES

Type of genes that control the normal cell growth and replication

1. GENETIC MAKE-UP
2. HORMONES
3. IMMUNOLOGIC RESPONSE

Intrinsic factors of cancer

GENETIC MAKE-UP

Cancer occurs at an early age and at multiple sites, and familial disposition with a marked incidence of bilateral cancer in paired organs occurs.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Excessive concentration of some hormones influence the change of some normal cells to malignant ones with subsequent uncontrolled growth.

CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS

They produce toxic effects by altering DNA structures in body sites distant from chemical exposure.

ALKALYTING AGENTS

these are drugs capable of interacting with the DNA.

1. PREPARATIVE ACTION OF TARGET ISSUE
2. PERMISSIVE INFLUENCE OR CARCINOGENESIS
3. CONDITIONING EFFECT ON THE TUMOR

3 ways how hormones influence carcinogens

1. IONIZING RADIATION
2. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
3. FOREIGN BODIES

Physical Carcinogens

2-3 YEARS AFTER BIRTH

A higher incidence of childhood cancer occurs in children exposed during fetal life specifically in what years?

EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS

A virus that causes Burkitt's lymphoma

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE: Moles should not be removed if in constant contact with shoelaces, belts, girdles, bra, shirt collar.

AFLATOXIN B

Chemical from contaminated food that could lead to hepatocellular carcinoma

STEM CELL

Site where cell proliferation starts when it enters the cell cycle

GENERATION TIME

The time from the birth of a new cell to the time the cell divides into 2 identical cells.

FALSE : Immaturity to maturity

TRUE OR FALSE: Cellular differentiation is an orderly process that progresses from a state of maturity to immaturity.

FALSE : Well-differentiated to undifferentiated

TRUE OR FALSE: Benign neoplasm is well-differentiated and malignant neoplasm range from undifferentiated to well-differentiated.

FALSE : not always

TRUE OR FALSE: Mutations always immediately lead to cancer.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE: Alterations in the initiation stage are reversible but are not significant to cancer development.

1 1/2 to 40 YEARS

How many years does it takes for a mass to reach in thre latency period?

FALSE: irreversible

TRUE OR FALSE: Latent period comprise both initiation and progression stages.

PROGRESSION PHASE

Abnormal cells increase rapidly, erode normal tissue functions, may migrate to other tissues

PROGRESSION PHASE

Progressive increase in the rate and growth and proliferation of cancer cells that are heterogeneous in nature and are able to survive in the environment.

TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS FACTOR (TAF)

A protein in cancer tissue that acts to stimulate the growth of new capillaries that supply the tumor with nutrients and remove waste products.

TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS FACTOR (TAF)

Stimulates capillaries and blood vessels in the area to grow new branches into the tumor.

FALSE : cannot

TRUE OR FALSE: Tumors can grow beyond a diameter of 2-3 mm.

METASTASIS

The spread of cancer cells to locations distant from their original site; a major determining factor in the nature and prognosis of cancer.

TRUE

Metastasis is an active process

1. PROLIFERATION
2. LOCAL INVASION
3. INTRAVASATION
4. DISSEMINATION
5. EXTRAVASATION
6. COLONIZATION

Stages of metastasis

1. SEROSAL SEEDING
2. PERITONEAL CAVITY
3. SURGICAL IMPLANTATION

Ways how cancer cells implant themselves

FALSE : less likely

TRUE OR FALSE: The more differentiated the cell is, the more likely it is to divide.

CARCINOMA

They originate from the:
1. Embryonal ectoderm (skin & glands)
2. Endoderm (Mucus membrane, lining of respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts)

SARCOMA

They originates from embryonal ectoderm such as connective tissues, muscles, bones & fat.

LYMPHOMAS AND LEUKEMIA

Cancer that is found within the blood forming organs

GRADE I

Cells differ slightly from normal cells and are well differentiated

GRADE II

Cells are more abnormal and moderately differentiated

GRADE III

Cells are very abnormal (severe dysplasia) and poorly differentiated (high grade)

GRADE IV

Cells are immature and primitive (anaplasia) and undifferentiated; cell of origin is difficult to determine (high grade)

CLINICAL STAGING OF CANCER

Stage 0: cancer in situ
Stage I: tumor limited to the tissue of origin; localized tumor growth
Stage II: limited local spread
Stage III: extensive local and regional spread
Stage IV: metastasis

DISTANT METASTASIS

Spread through vascular and lymphatic pathways

PRIMARY TUMOR

Original tumor; the source of metastasis