Exam 3 Flashcards
(142 cards)
For most cancers, the stage is based on 3 main factors:
- Tumor size and invasion
- Lymph node involvement
- Metastasis
TNM System:
T (1-4) - size and invasiveness of primary tumor.
N (0-3) - lymph node involvement
M (0-1) - tumor metastasis
—M0 = no evidence of metastasis
Grading:
Tumor grading is a system used to classify cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread. Look at cell characteristics.
After biopsy, tissue is examined for:
- Degree of Differentiation
- Extent of pleomorphism
- Frequency of mitosis/mitotic figures (growth fraction)
Grade (numbers)
G1: well-differentiated (low grade)
G2: moderately differentiated (intermediate grade)
G3: poorly differentiated (high grade)
G4: undifferentiated/anaplastic (high grade)
*grading systems are different for each type of cancer
Goals of cancer treatment fall into three categories:
- Curative (tries to completely irradiate)
- Controlling (tries to slow progression)
- Palliative (not aimed at a cure, tries to reducing suffering; pain management)
Cancer Treatments (listed)
Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Bone marrow and stem cell transplants Gene Therapy Antiangiogenesis therapy Combination therapy
Surgery (cancer treatment)
removal of tumor - try for clean (negative) margins of resection
(take out whole area around with normal cells so there is a margin on normal cells around the tumor)
Radiation Therapy (cancer treatment)
ionizing radiation
localized beams of radiation directed toward tumor site
Chemotherapy (cancer treatment)
Anti-neoplastic chemicals. Tends to lose effect with time. Some tumors are resistant.
(works systemically - targets all labile cells, cells dividing at a high rate)
side effects: hair loss, nausea, fatigue, etc.
Interferes with mitosis of bone marrow
-bone marrow suppressed so it affects RBCs, WBCs, and platelets
Immunotherapy
attempts to use immune system to fight tumor
- interferon or interleukin 2 (IL2)
- monoclonal antibodies - block signals, mark for destruction
- vaccines - prophylactic (prevent virus = prevent cancer, for example, HPV) and therapeutic (teaches immune system to go and attack cancer by pulling cancer cells out and developing the vaccine and inserting it back in)
Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplants (cancer treatment)
Use other people’s marrow and/or stem cells to help cure certain diseases
Gene Therapy (cancer treatment)
Alteration of one’s genetic material to fight or prevent disease
(replace mutated genes to cure cancer)
(modify virus and insert to replace mutated DNA)
Antiangiogenesis Therapy (cancer treatment)
Target VEGF pathway
blocks VEGF receptors so blood vessels aren’t growing in tumors
Combination Therapy
Use of two or more therapies. Surgery and/or radiation first, followed by chemotherapy.
(most common/likely)
Prostate (Background Information
- Prostate gland is an encapsulated gland that secretes additional fluids into the seminal fluid
- It lies between the urinary bladder and the superior surface of the UG diaphragm
- The prostate gland can be broken down into various lobes; some of which are the anterior, posterior, and median lobes (which have clinical significance)
Anterior Lobe (prostate gland)
Fibrous and normally non-pathological in nature
Median Lobe (prostate gland)
Is famous for benign prostatic hyperplasia (NOT CANCER)
The lobe may undergo hyperplasia resulting in obstruction of the urethra and the visceral neck of the urinary bladder. (enlarges upward and closes in on urethra, squeezing off urethra)
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - Signs and Symptoms
Urinary frequency, dysuria (difficult urination), and infection due to retention (cannot completely empty the bladder)
This condition begins at about 45 years of age, and occurs in 80% of all men by 80 years of age
BPH - Treatment
Take meds to shrink
Less than 10% require TURP
Posterior Lobe (prostate gland)
Most predisposed to malignant transformation (carcinoma of the prostate)
Prostate Cancer Statistics
Most common cancer in males (1 in 6 men)
Second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in males
Prostate Cancer Etiology
Poorly understood, but genetics and testosterone play a role
Risk factors include age (>70, rare before age 65), race (black people have higher risk), and heredity (dad/brother with cancer = 2x risk)
Prostate Cancer Pathology
85% originate in posterior lobe
Metastasizes through lymphatic vessels into adjacent structures: rectum, bladder, pelvic structures, vertebral column, liver, others.
Most often slow growing