8️⃣ Neoplasia & metastasis Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is neoplasia?
Neoplasia is abnormal, uncontrolled cell growth due to a loss of homeostatic balance between cell replication and death.
What does neoplastic transformation involve?
Transformation allows cells to replicate independently of normal environmental controls.
Describe the progression from normal tissue to cancer.
Normal tissue → Hyperplasia → Dysplasia → Cancer.
What are key morphological changes seen in dysplasia?
Cellular disorganization, loss of uniformity, nuclear atypia, increased mitoses.
What is anaplasia and its features?
Loss of differentiation, nuclear abnormalities, atypical mitoses, cellular pleomorphism.
What are parenchymal and stromal components of a tumour?
Parenchyma: neoplastic cells; Stroma: connective tissue, blood vessels, immune cells.
What are key features of the tumour microenvironment?
Angiogenesis, immune evasion, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs).
What are features of benign tumours?
Well differentiated, slow-growing, localized, often encapsulated, non-invasive, non-metastatic.
Give examples of benign tumours.
Adenoma, papilloma, polyp.
What are features of malignant tumours?
Poorly differentiated/anaplastic, fast-growing, invasive, can metastasize.
What histological features are seen in malignancy?
Nuclear polymorphism, hyperchromatism, loss of polarity, abnormal mitoses, tumour giant cells.
Compare leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma.
Leiomyoma: benign smooth muscle tumour; Leiomyosarcoma: malignant smooth muscle tumour.
What are mixed tumours and divergent differentiation?
Tumours with multiple tissue types (e.g., salivary gland tumour or ovarian teratoma).
What is metastasis?
The spread of cancer from the primary site to distant secondary sites.
Outline the metastatic cascade.
1) Invasion of ECM 2) Intravasation 3) Survival in circulation 4) Extravasation 5) Colonization & growth.
What are the three major pathways of cancer spread?
Hematogenous, lymphatic, and transcoelomic.
Give examples of cancers and their common metastasis sites.
Breast → brain, liver, lungs, bone marrow; Colon → liver, lungs, bone marrow.
How do leukemia and lymphoma behave differently?
They are disseminated diseases from the outset rather than spreading from a primary solid tumour.
What is the significance of cancer in Australia?
It is the leading cause of death; common cancers vary by sex and age; survival rates are improving.
What are the key etiological factors for cancer?
Genetic (hereditary, spontaneous, environmental) and environmental (e.g., smoking, diet).
What are key lifestyle risk factors for cancer?
Smoking → lung, esophagus; Alcohol → liver, esophagus; High-fat diet → inflammation.
Which infections are linked to cancer?
HPV, Hep B, H. pylori.
What acquired conditions predispose to cancer?
Chronic inflammation (e.g., asbestos → mesothelioma), immunodeficiency (e.g., AIDS → Kaposi’s sarcoma, lymphoma).
Why is early cancer detection important?
It improves prognosis and allows for less aggressive treatment.
