General Pathology > Pathology Tumor > Flashcards

Pathology Tumor Flashcards

(71 cards)

Study These Flashcards
0
Q

Normal cell growth requires

A

Genetic material, aka DNA and RNA
Signals from one cell to another
Growth inhibiting or growth promoting substances
Once a cell stops growing it needs to differentiate - to become specialized - by activating some genes, and suppressing other genes
Tumour cells do not achieve the same level of differentiation as normal cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

Neoplasia

A

Neoplasm - new growth

Uncontrolled cell growth whose proliferation can not be adequately controlled by normal regulatory mechanisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Neoplastic cell proliferation is:

A

Autonomous - independent of normal growth factors and inhibitors
Excessive - doesn’t respond to normal regulators
Disorganized - compared to the formation of normal tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Classification of tumour

A

Benign - limited growth potential and good outcome

Malignant - grow uncontrollably with poor outcome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Histologic classification

A

Based on how cells look under the microscope

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Benign Tumours Microscopic Features

A

Sharply demarcated
Often encapsulated (CT tissue)
Can have expansive growth which compresses adjacent tissue leading to atrophy and fibrosis
Can be easily removed by surgery
No hemorrhage or necrosis
Resemble the original tissue from which they have arisen
Show high level of differentiation (it might show nucleus, mitochondria)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Benign tumours cellular features

A

Uniform cell populations (homogenous)
Regularly shaped/same sized nuclei
Well developed cytoplasm (sign that specialized)
Nucleus occupies a small portion of the cell
Nucleus has even distribution of chromatin
Nucleoli are not overprominent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Benign tumors chromosomal features

A

has normal number of chromosomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Benign Tumor biological features

A

Retain normal complex functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Malignant tumors macroscopic

A 
no clear margins from normal tissue
No encapsulation
can have INVASIVE growth
can not be removed easily by surgery
Hemorrhage and necrosis present
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Malignant Tumours microscopic

A

Differ considerably from original tissues
Show anaplasia (cells take on new characteristics)
Undifferentiated
Still can tell where the tissue originally came from (ex. breast tissue in the liver)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is anaplasia

A

cells take on new characteristics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Malignant Tumors cellular features

A

Don’t have uniform cell populations (heterogenous)
Cells vary in size and shape
Nuclei vary in shape and size
Variable amounts of cytoplasm
Nucleus is larger
Hyperchromatic (more chromatin, unevenly distributed, nucleoli prominent, multiple)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Malignant tumours chromosome features

A

Aneuploid (abnormal number of chromosomes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Malignant tumours Biological features

A

No specialization or differentiation

Metabolism is geared toward supporting growth and replication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is Metastases

A

A proces by which cells move from one site to another in the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is pleomorphism

A

nucleus or cells in various sizes and shapes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Metastasis of Malignant tumor 3 pathways

A 
Involves a spread of tumor cells from a primary location to another site in the body
spread can occur through 3 main pathways
1. Lymphatics
2. Blood (hematogenous spread)
3. Body cavities
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Metastastic cascade

A

Not all malignant cells are capable of metastasis
Cells must acquire the capacity to metastasize
Cells then expand clonally
clone expands, cells reach lymphatics or blood vessels or body cavity
Fluid carries the cells from the primary site to distant locations where cells attach and begin forming a new tumour mass
Metastatic cells must escape immune cells including macrophages, T cells, NK cells
Malignant tumour must form new blood vessels (angiogenesis)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Benign tumours of mesenchymal cells

A

end in “-oma”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Benign tumor from fibroblast

A

Fibroma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Benign tumor from Cartilage

A

Chondroma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Benign tumor From adipose

A

Lipoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Benign tumor From smooth muscles cells

A

Leiomyoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Benign tumor From bone
Osteoma
25
Benign tumors of striated muscle cells
Rhabdomyoma
26
Benign tumors of Epithelial cells
Adenoma -composed of glands or ducts
27
Benign tumors of Epithelial cells in the GI tract
Tubular or villous adenomas (aka polyps)
28
Protuberant (round or ropy thing sticking out) tumors of the skin, urinary bladder, mouth, larynx
Papillomas (squamous cell)
29
Cystic tumors composed of hallow spaces line by neoplastic epithelium
Cystadenomas
30
Malignant tumours of fibroblast
Fibrosarcoma
31
Malignant tumors from cartilage
Chondrosarcoma
32
Malignant tumor from fat
Liposarcoma
33
Malignant tumors from bone
Osteosarcoma
34
Malignant tumor of epithelial cells
Carcinomas (e.g. squamous cell carcinoma)
35
Malignant tumors from glands and ducts
Adenocarcinomas
36
malignant tumors of lymphoid cells
Lymphoma
37
malignant tumors from glial cells
Glioma
38
malignant tumors of testicles
Seminomas
39
malignant tumors composed of embryonic cells orginating from embryonic primordia (earliest recognizable stage of the embrionic development)
``` Blastoma Retinoblastoma: eye Neuroblastoma: adrenal medulla or immature neural cells Hepatoblastoma: liver Nephroblastoma: kidney ```
40
Tumors derived from germ cells (eggs and sperm) are called
Benign: teratomas (contain tissue formed from all three germ layers Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm) Malignant: teratocarcinoma
41
Eponymous (named after somebody) tumors examples
Hodgkin's lymphoma Ewing's sarcoma (rare cancer of the bone and soft tissue) Kaposi's sacorma (abnormal growth under skin, etc)
42
Tumor staging
done to clinically assess the extent of tumor spread based on clinical exam,xray, biopsy, surgery TNM system of staging takes into account size of tumor (T), presence of lymph node metastases (N), distant metastases (M) Expressed on a scale from I through IV or A to D TNM system of staging assigns a number to: tumor size, lymph node involvement and distant metastasis E.g. T1, N1, M0
43
Grading of tumor
Grade I - well differentiated Grade II - moderately well differentiated Grade III - undifferentiated *staging has more predictive value
44
Biochemistry of cancer cells
Metabolism of cancer cells is simpler Require less oxygen Better adapted for survival fewer mitochondria Fewer enzymes Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum is simpler and less abundant Simplified metabolism leads to loss of functional capacity
45
Anaplasia
cells can acquire new characteristics Anaplastic cells are larger and often show nuclear irregularity. Tumor cells may regress and assume fetal features. EX. Liver cancer cells secrete alpha-feto protein (AFP) a major secretory product of fetal liver cells that is not synthesized by normal adult cells. Intestinal carcinoma cells produce carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
46
Growth properties of Tumor
Lack contact inhibition - tend to pile up forming aggregates and nodules Do not require firm support for growth Autonomous - do not depend on growth stimuli Excessive and unregulated - do not respond to normal inhibitory influences
47
causes of cancer
Carcinogen Exogenous carcinogens: Chemicals, physical agents, viruses Endogenous carcinogens: genetic, oncogene - human cancer gene: can be identical to exogenous viral gene
48
identification of carcinogens
Clinical studies (case studies) Epidemiologic studies Experimental studies performed on animals and in labs (in vitro)
49
Action of carcinogens
1. Locally at the site of contact (e.g. skin and lungs) 2. At the site of digestion 3. At the site of metabolic activation in the liver 4. At the site of excretion in the urine
50
carcinogenesis
1. ingestion of procarcinogen (potentially harmful substance) activated metabolically in the liver 2. Starts initiation - induction of genetic changes in the exposed cells 3. Promotion - initiated cells are stimulated to proliferate 4. Conversion - convert to new cell type and reproduction 5. Clonal expansion - expansion of cell clones Some will be dormant in new location, some will metastasize 6. Selection - the most adaptable and vital clones will survive
51
Physical carcinogens
``` Radiation UV light X-rays Radioactive isotopes Atomic bombs ```
52
Biological carcinogens
Aflatoxin (fungi) on peanuts causes liver cancer especially in Africa and Asia Parasites in Egypt causes bladder cancer
53
Viral Carcinogen classification
DNA virus (Human Papilloma viruses -HPV, Epstein-Barr Virus -EBV, Hepititis B Virus - HBV) RNA virus Retrovirus (such as HIV, Human T-cell Lymphoma/Leukemia virus 1 - HTLV-1) Etc.
54
Human PapillomaViruses (HPV)
Human DNA virus over 70 subtypes linked to human lesions such as warts Can cause benign or malignant tumors Some strains of HPV cause genital warts which is linked to invasive cervical carcinoma
55
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
Human DNA viruse Human herpes virus with a predilection for B cells Extremely prevalent Can be asymptomatic or can produce infectious mononucleosis (IM) Related to Burkitt's lymphoma (B cell cancer) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (nasal, pharyngeal)
56
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Human DNA virus transmitted by blood Associated with liver cancer
57
Human T-cell lympoma/Leukemia virus 1 (HTLV - 1)
RNA retrovirus | Causes a rare form of adult T cell leukemia
58
Oncogenes
Normal cellular genes, called "proto oncogenes" encode for proteins important for basic cell functions Proto oncogenes are transformed into oncogenes (muted normal cellular genes) by four mechanisms
59
Oncogene 4 mechanisms
1. Point mutation single base substitution in the DNA chain 2. Gene amplification increased number of copies of the proto oncogenes 3. Chromosomal rearrangement translocations of on e chromosomal fragment onto another or delation of a fragment or insertion of a fragment 4. Insertion of viral genome
60
Tumour suppressor genes
Cells have regulatory genetic mechanisms to protect against activated or newly acquired oncogenes If a tumour cell is fused with a normal cell, the hybrid cell will be benign because the tumor suppressor genes of the normal cell will suppress the oncogenes of the malignant cell
61
Hereditary cancer
Certain cancers occurs more often in families | Each of these disease has been linked to an absence of a specific tumour suppressor gene
62
Examples of Hereditary Cancer
Neurofibromatosis type I common autosomal dominant disease in humans Numerous subcutaneous neural sheath tumours also with pigmented lesions of the skin (Cafe' au lait spots)
63
Immune response to tumors
1. Malignant tumours differ from their normal ancestors Malignancy may alter tumor cells so mach that they become "foreign" to the body's immune system 2. Tumour antigens will induce antibody production and cell-mediated immune response (T suppressor/cytotoxic cells) Innate immunity - NK Kills, macrophages 3. Ultimately immune response can limit growth of tumor. Many small tumors are maybe eliminated by immune system. Best clinical example is AIDS. Immunotherapy treatment can be successful in eliminating tumors
64
Clinical manifestation of neoplasia (7)
``` High variable Warning signs include 1. Change in bowel/bladder habits 2. A sore that won't heal 3. Unusual bleeding or discharge 4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere 5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing 6. Obvious change in wart or mole 7. Nagging cough or hoarseness ```
65
Clinical features of a tumor depending on (6)
1. Type of tumor 2. Location of tumor 3. Histological grade of tumor 4. Clinical stage of tumor 5. Immune status of person 6. Sensitivity of tumor to therapy
66
Local symptoms
Due to tumor growth compressing adjacent structures Compression of brain causes epileptic seizures Compression of lung causes coughing Can cause atrophy Can cause hemorrhage Can cause obstruction
67
Systemic symptoms of tumor
``` Cachexia -wasting Anorexia - loss of appetite Weight loss Thrombosis Paraneoplastic syndromes ```
68
Paraneoplastic syndromes
a consequence of the presence of cancer in the body, but not due to the local presence of cancer cells; can be caused by substances secreted by cancer cells
69
Paraneoplastic syndrome examples
Cushing's syndrome : small cell carcinoma of the lung, increase secretion of adrenal gland Hypercalcemia: squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, trigger thyroid Polycythemia: renal cell carcinoma, trigger erythropoisis, increased blood cells Venous Thrombosis: pancreatic carcinoma Myasthenia gravis: thymoma, secret antibody.
70
Epidemiology of tumor
Incidence - number of new cases in a specific time period in a given population Prevalence - the number of all cases within a given population at a given time Mortality- the number of deaths attributed to a specific population during a specific period
General Pathology
flashcards
Decks in class (12)
# Cards
Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2026 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions