Pathology

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cancer

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an uncontrolled proliferation of cells that express varying degrees of fidelity to their precursors

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carcinoma

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any of the various types of malignant neoplasms that derive from epithelial tissue; classified according to invasiveness and changes that indicate anaplasia; may be undifferentiated or resemble the tissue from which it derives

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sarcoma

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any of the various, usually highly malignant, neoplasms of connective tissue

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invasion

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direct extension or spread of a tumor within the tissue of origin, with penetration of the basement membrane of host tissue and the surrounding extracellular environment

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metastasis

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the transfer of malignant cells from one site to another not directly connected with it

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benign tumor

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does not invade adjacent tissue borders or spread (metastasize) to distant sites; often identified by the suffix "oma", preceded by a reference to the cell or tissue of origin

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malignant tumor

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tumor that invades and/or metastasizes where subpopulations of tumor cells proliferate; usually carry the same name as their benign counterparts, with the suffix "carcinoma" to indicate epithelial origin or "sarcoma" to indicated mesenchymal (mesodermal cells) origin

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anaplasia

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lack of differentiation in a cancer cell (degree correlates with aggressiveness)

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carcinoma in situ

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localized malignant tumor that has not yet acquired invasive potential

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mutagens

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agents that can permanently alter the genetic constitution of a cell

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oncogene

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tumorigenic and transforming DNA sequences in human tumors that are mutants of normal proto-oncogenes which control growth and differentiation

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tumor suppressor gene

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a mutation that creates a deficiency of a normal gene product which controls cellular proliferation causing tumor formation