Introduction To Neoplasia

Front 1

Define non-neoplastic growths and neoplasia

Back 1

non-neoplastic growth: characterized by coordinated growth due to present stimuli (i.e. hyperplasia, hypertrophy, metaplasia, dysplasia, choristoma, hamartoma)

Neoplasia: characterized by an abnormal mass whose growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of adjacent normal tissue and continues even after the cessation of the stimuli.

Front 2

Compare and contrast anaplasia, hyperplasia, neoplasia and dysplasia

Back 2

Anaplasia: unregulated cell growth, cytologic changes, invasion of basement membrane, loss of normal tissue architecture

Hyperplasia: only an increase in cells (opposite of analplasia)

Neoplasia (benign): regulated growth, cytologic changes, no invasion of basement membrane, normal tissue architecture

Neoplasia (malignant): unregulated growth, cytologic changes, invasion of basement membrane, loss of normal tissue architecture

Dysplasia: unregulated cell growth, some cytologic change, no invasion of basement membrane, no loss of normal architecture

Front 3

Describe the ways cancers spread

Back 3

Seeding of spread: seeding of body cavities and surfaces

Lympathic: most common pathway for initial spread of carcinomas (sarcomas can also spread this way)

Hematogenous spread: invasion into venous vessels leading to distant metastasis

MECHANISM OF SPREAD:
1) tumor cells adhere to and invade basement membrane and pass through ECM via enzymatic degradation
2) intravasation and form tumor embolus
3) adhere to vascular basement membrane
4) extravasation
5) formation of metastatic deposit

Front 4

Define grade, stage and tumor progression

Back 4

grade: degree of differentiation and number of mitosis
low = well-differentiated
high: poorly differentiated (anaplastic)

stage: based on size of primary lesion, invasion into lymphatics and blood vessels

tumor progression: refers to the degree to which the tumor can alter its morphology due to changing their biological behavior and phenotype. Occurs due to mutations in genes involving cell proliferation, inhibition of cell growth, apoptosis, and invasion into neighboring tissues.

Front 5

Describe the general causes of neoplasia

Back 5

Chemical carcinogens (inducers and promoters)

Physical (UV)

Genetic: family members inherit one or more mutations necessary to produce cancer

Inflammation: cancers commonly arise from a site of infection, chronic irritation, and inflammation

Viral (HPV)