Introduction to Basic Oncology Cancer Cell AHS 102 Med Term Dr. Susie Turner 1/3/13 General Oncology Study of Tumors Neoplasms/Tumors Abnormal growth of new tissue Are either; Benign or Malignant Onc/o = tumor, swelling, mass neo- = new Onc/o = tumor, swelling, mass 1
Benign Neoplasms Noncancerous growths Made of same tissue as the tissue in which they are growing. Usually encapsulated & not harmful Malignant Neoplasms Cancerous growths Cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Look different from tissue in which they are growing. Uncontrolled growth Invades surrounding or distant tissues. 2
Malignant Spread of Malignant Tumors Invasion Cancer spreads locally Spread into surrounding tissues Metastasis Cancer cells spread to distant areas Distant spread thru blood or lymph vessels Form secondary tumor sites 3
Primary vs Secondary Tumors Primary Where cancer starts Secondary Where cancer spreads Cancer is located in the tissue where it started. Ex; Lung Cancer found in the lung is a primary tumor. Primary Tumor 4
Secondary Tumor Cancer spread and in located in a different tissue. Ex; Lung Cancer found in the brain or a bone is a secondary tumor. Cancer in the early stages prior to metastasis Cancer in Situ 5
Naming of Malignant Tumors Terms of cancers of various organs Cancer terminology is based on the type of cell and organ from which they originated. Most common malignant tumors are carcinomas & sarcomas. Carcinomas and Sarcomas Differences Different points of origin Differ in the way they spread inside the body. advanced breast carcinoma advanced sarcoma 6
Carcinomas Originate from epithelial cells Spread Infiltrates all nearby structures Invades nearby nerves, veins, muscles and blood cells.. Named for the organ in which they arise Breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc. Called an adenocarcinoma if arise from glandular cells Comprise about 90% of cancers Sarcomas Originate from musculoskeletal system Can also spread to other tissues of the body Named for the tissue from which they arise Ex; if start from bone are called osteosarcoma; start in fat are liposarcoma) Rare < 1% of total types of cancers 7
Basic Concepts on Treatment of Cancer Initially based on the finding that cancer is a disease of mitosis gone wrong. Cancer cells ignore normal regulation of cell division A single cell becomes cancerous when it goes haywire. Undergoes repeated, uncontrolled mitosis. Different Cancer Therapies Depends on; What type of cancer it is Where it is in the body Whether it has spread (its stage). 8
3 Goals of Anticancer Drugs 1. Damage the cancer cell DNA. 2. Inhibit the synthesis of new cancer cell DNA strands. Stops the cell from replicating. 3. Stop mitosis or cell division of cancer cell. Therapies Used to Treat Cancer 1. Chemotherapy 2. Hormone Drugs 3. Biological Therapy 4. Targeted Drug Therapy 9
Chemotherapy Cytotoxic and work by; Slowing down cancer cells from growing or multiplying. Have many side effects because can harm healthy cells Healthy cells can repair the damage but cancer cells can't and eventually die. Stop your body s hormones from helping some cancers to continue to grow. Hormone Drugs 10
Biological Therapy Drugs which help your body s immune system fight against cancer. Targeted Drug Therapy Includes drugs which are designed to attack only certain areas found mainly in cancer cells. 11
Tumor Grading and Staging Systems Survival rates in different types of cancers are low compared to other diseases. Pathologists grade and stage tumors for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes Grading & Staging Cancer Grade Evaluates the appearance & maturity of malignant cells. How abnormal the cells look Stage Identifies size of tumor and how far cells have spread Including degree of local invasion and metastasis 12