Cancer Biology: Cell Morphology and Neoplasm Classification

Cell Morphology and Arrangement

• Cancerous (neoplastic) cells typically originate from pre-existing cells.
• The morphology (shape) of these cells does not differ from the original tissue cells.
• Arrangement of the cells may not resemble the normal tissue arrangement.

Classification of Neoplasms

• Tumors are classified as benign or malignant based on biological behavior and growth patterns.
• Benign tumors typically end with the suffix "-oma" (e.g., fibroma, papilloma).
• Malignant tumors are often preceded by the word "malignant" or include prefixes like "carcinoma" (epithelial origin) or "sarcoma" (mesenchymal origin).
• Benign tumors are well-circumscribed, encapsulated, and do not spread; they are usually harmless.
• Malignant tumors are infiltrative, often irregular, non-encapsulated, and can spread (metastasize).

Tumor Biological Behavior

• Tumors are categorized based on the differentiation of tumor cells and the pattern of growth.
• Differentiation refers to how similar the tumor cells are to the original cells.
• Growth patterns like expansion (benign) or invasion/infiltration (malignant) distinguish tumor types.

Benign Tumors

• Characterized by gentle, harmless behavior
• Typically well-defined borders
• Usually grow by expansion, not invasion
• Often encapsulated which can be surgically removed
• Usually do not recur after removal
• Rarely fatal

Malignant Tumors

• Harmful and invasive in nature
• Often have irregular borders
• Spread by infiltration into nearby tissue (infiltrative growth)
• Often spread to other parts of the body (metastasis)
• Recurrence after surgery is common
• Usually fatal if left untreated

This quiz covers key concepts in cancer biology, focusing on cell morphology, the classification of neoplasms, and their biological behavior. Learn about the differences between benign and malignant tumors, as well as their growth patterns and characteristics. Test your understanding of how these tumors arise and their clinical significance.