Neoplasms and Cancer Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, classifications, staging, grading, and characteristics of neoplasms and cancer based on the lecture notes.

Neoplasm

Uncontrolled, abnormal cell growth.

Cancer

Any cell growth that inhibits or destroys normal cell function.

Benign Tumors

Abnormal growths (neoplasms) that retain some normal tissue structure, with well-differentiated cells that are encapsulated, slow-growing, non-invasive, and do not metastasize.

Malignant Tumors

Abnormal growths that demonstrate rapid growth rates, lack differentiation and normal tissue organization, aggressively invade local tissues, and are capable of metastasizing through blood and lymphatic vessels.

p53

An important tumor-suppressor protein altered in most cancers that activates cellular responses including cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis to contribute to tumor suppression.

Angiogenesis

The development of new blood vessels, which cancer cells can stimulate within tumors.

Carcinomas

Cancers that arise from endothelial and epithelial tissues, such as squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinomas

Cancers that arise from glandular or ductal epithelium, such as mammary adenocarcinoma.

Sarcomas

Cancers that arise from connective tissue or muscle tissue, such as osteosarcoma.

Lymphomas

Cancers of lymphatic tissue, such as Burkitt lymphoma.

Leukemias

Cancers of blood stem cells, such as chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Tumor Grading

The process of classifying the level of differentiation in a tumor based on microscopic appearance, ranging from Grade 1 (well differentiated) to Grade 4 (poorly differentiated).

In Situ Neoplasm

Also called stage 0 disease, a group of abnormal cells that remain in the place where they first formed and have not spread into nearby normal tissue.

Stage 1 Cancer

Cancer that is confined to the organ or tissue of origin.

Stage 2 Cancer

Cancer that is locally invasive to tissues adjacent to the site of origin.

Stage 3 Cancer

Cancer that has spread to regional structures and tissues, such as lymph nodes.

Stage 4 Cancer

Cancer that has metastasized to distant locations.

Surgery

A traditional cancer treatment method involving the removal of cancer cells using surgical intervention.

Radiotherapy

A traditional cancer treatment method involving the destruction of cancer cells using radiation.

Chemotherapy

A traditional cancer treatment method involving the destruction of cancer cells using anti-cancer drug agents.

Polyp

A small growth in the mucous membrane surface, commonly occurring in the colon where it may bleed or obstruct the bowel.

Colonoscopy

A diagnostic procedure involving visual inspection of the colon up to the ileocecal valve.