Tumour Pathology Flashcards
(36 cards)
Describe the main differences between benign and malignant tumours
Both differ in various ways: • Growth pattern • Presence of capsule • Invasion • Presence of metastases • Differentiation • Appearance of tumour cells • Function • Behaviour
Describe the properties of benign cancer cells
- Non-invasive growth pattern
- Usually encapsulated
- No evidence of invasion
- No metastases
- Cells similar to normal in function and appearance
- Benign tumours are “well-differentiated”
- Rarely cause death
Describe the systemic effects of cancer
- Secretion of hormones
- Weight loss-cachexia – unwanted, though can also be due to obstruction etc.
- Paraneoplastic syndromes
- Effects of treatment
Describe the local effects of cancer
Pressure
Obstruction
Tissue destruction during invasion
Bleeding due to damage of vessels during invasion
Pain due to pressure on nerves
Effects of treatments e.g. IV infusion reactions
Identify the concepts of neoplasia and intraepithelial dysplasia
Dysplastic = abnormal growth or development of existing tissue. Neoplastic = relates to a new growth or tumor.
Describe the cell cycle of normal cells
Mitosis:
• Mechanism of cellular replication
• Nuclear division plus cytokinesis
• Generates two identical diploid daughter cells
Cell Cycle = time interval between mitotic divisions. Called interphase where the chromosomes and cellular contents are duplicated.
Outline the process of carcinogenesis and describe its effects on the cell cycle.
- Cancer is a genetic disease
- Carcinogenesis is caused by mutation of genetic material that upsets the normal balance between proliferation and apoptosis (cell death)
- Uncontrolled proliferation of cells leads to tumours
- Only mutations in genes regulating cell division, apoptosis, and DNA repair cause a cell to lose control of proliferation via cell cycle dysregulation
List the major aetiological agents of cancer.
- Non-lethal genetic damage - Environmental agents e.g. Chemicals, Radiation, Oncogenic viruses
- Inherited
- Geographic and environmental factors
- Age
Describe the properties of a cancer cell
• Altered genetics – Loss of tumour suppressor genes – Gain of function of oncogenes • Altered cellular function – Tumour-related proteins • Abnormal morphology • Cells capable of independent growth • But no single feature is unique to cancer cells
What is the clinical significance of cancer biomarkers?
- Screening
- Diagnosis
- Prognostic- Identifying patients specific outcome
- Predictive - who will respond to a particular therapy
Give some examples of cancer biomarkers
Alpha-fetoprotein • Teratoma of testis • Hepatocellular carcinoma Carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) • Colorectal cancer Oestrogen receptor • Breast cancer Prostate specific antigen • Prostate cancer
Describe some clinically useful predictive biomarkers
Kras (GTPase) – Colorectal cancer EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) – Lung cancer Her2 (neu in rodents, EGFR associated with aggressive breast cancers) – Breast cancer – Gastric cancer Braf (protooncogene that helps direct cell growth) – Melanoma
How can we identify cancer cells by appearance alone?
• Cellular and nuclear pleomorphism
– Marked variation in size and shape
• Mitoses (dividing cells) present and often abnormal
What usually worsens the prognosis of cancer?
High degree of angiogenesis, invasion and cancer spread
Describe the different modes of cancer spread
- Local spread
- Lymphatic spread
- Blood spread
- Trans-coelomic spread
Describe some common sites of metastases
- Liver
- Lung
- Brain
- Bone - Axial skeleton e.g. vertebrae, pelvis
- Adrenal gland
Where do breast cancers commonly metastasise?
Bone
Where do prostate cancers commonly metastasise?
Bone
Where do colorectal cancers commonly metastasise?
Liver
Describe two hormones that are abnormally produced in certain cancers
ACTH - lung cancer
ADH - lung cancer
Define paraneoplastic syndromes
Syndromes or symptoms that cannot be explained by local or metastatic effects of tumours, caused by humoral factors e.g. neuropathy, myopathy. Thought they may be caused due to immune or hormonal factors
Describe the importance of cyclins, cycling dependent kinases and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors in cancer
Many genes mutated in cancer regulate the cell cycle
Two regulatory pathways frequently disrupted -
1. The cyclin D-pRb-E2F pathway
2. p53 pathway
Active CDK/cyclin complexes phosphorylate target proteins which results in activation/inactivation of that substrate, which regulate events in the next cycle phase.
pRb is hypophosphorylated, and is phosphorylated by CDK/cyclin complexes as cells progress through the cell cycle. Hypophosphorylated/active Rb inactivates E2F, while phosphorylated/inactive pRb loses affinity for E2F. Free E2F transcription factor activates vital target genes and is a potent stimulator of cell cycle entry. If this system is not regulated, uncontrolled progression through the cell cycle occurs.
Where in the cell cycle are cancer cells usually dysregulated and why?
Virtually all cancers are dysregulated at G1-S because of mutation in one of four genes:
o Rb, CDK4, cyclin D and p16
What is p53, its function and its role in cancer development?
- p53 is a gene that codes for a protein that regulates the cell cycle and hence functions as a tumor suppressor gene. Maintains genomic integrity
- p53 levels increase in damaged cells and induces cell cycle arrest at G1 to allow DNA repair
- Severe damage: p53-induced apoptosis (programmed cell death)
- Cells with mutated p53 do not G1 arrest or repair damaged DNA and these genetically damaged cells proliferate and form malignant neoplasms
