Neoplasia & Cancer Overview

Uncontrolled, disorderly cell proliferation resulting in a benign or malignant tumor.

A neoplastic growth, which can be benign or malignant.

A tumor that resembles original tissue, grows slow, doesn't spread, is often encapsulated, and doesn't destroy surrounding tissues.

An undifferentiated, uncontrolled growth that invades surrounding tissue, metastasizes, and is destructive.

Malignant tumor.

Tumors have proliferating tumor cells and supporting stroma with connective tissue and vessels.

Benign tumors are named using the suffix "-oma" (e.g., lipoma, fibroma, adenoma).

Slow growth, encapsulated, do not metastasize, and are not destructive.

Benign neoplasm arising from surface epithelium; finger-like projections.

Benign overgrowth of malformed tissue, often found in lungs, kidneys, or spleen.

Cancerous tumor with invasive growth and potential metastasis.

Spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body.

Poorly differentiated cancerous cells.

Wide variation in the shape and appearance of cancer cells.

Cancer originating from epithelial cells (skin, glands, lining of organs).

Carcinoma originating from squamous cells, often found in skin, mouth, esophagus.

Carcinoma originating from glandular tissue, frequently in the digestive system.

Cancer originating from muscle, bone, or connective tissue.

Tumor derived from germ cells (e.g., ovary, testis).

Selective loss of muscle and fat tissues in cancer patients; not fully understood but a significant prognostic factor.

Weight loss of 30-35% is often seen as fatal in cancer patients with cachexia, this is especially prominent in gastric and pancreatic cancer.

Cancer-related cachexia significantly decreases total body weight, fat, and muscle protein, while leaving other tissues relatively unchanged.

Cancer can disrupt lipid and protein metabolism, producing factors and cytokines to promote this disruption.

Cancer often leads to decreased appetite (anorexia) in afflicted patients.

Loss of muscle mass in cachectic patients can lead to respiratory failure, such as hypostatic pneumonia due to reduced mobility.

Notable weight loss in cancer patients serves as a significant clinical sign for diagnosis.

Diagnosis often includes clinical observation (like weight loss), imaging techniques (like X-ray, CT, MRI), biopsies, and laboratory tests (like CBC, PSA, CEA).

A tumor containing different types of tissues, often benign, but capable of being malignant. Typically develops from stem cells.

A malignant type of teratoma, usually found in male testicles, and containing immature tissues.

A benign type of teratoma, often found in females. It contains well-developed tissues.

A non-cancerous growth that grows by pushing surrounding tissue aside, usually with its own capsule.

A cancerous growth that invades surrounding tissues without respect for boundaries. Doesn't have a capsule.

The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Cancers that arise from epithelial cells, most commonly spread through lymphatics.

Cancers that arise from connective tissue, more likely spread by bloodstream.

Symptoms caused by cancer, but not directly from the tumor's local effects. These are related to the cancer's production of hormones or antibodies.

Elevated calcium levels caused by cancer-produced parathyroid hormone-like protein.

Essential steps in the biological behavior of cancerous cells. Invasion is the local spread, metastasis is the spread to distant sites.

Death due to cancer often results from the tumor's effects on organs, obstruction, bleeding, or the spread (metastasis) to vital tissues (liver, lungs, brain) that are essential for the body to function.

Cancer symptoms can mimic other conditions (like infections or benign growths), making diagnosis challenging.

Classifying cancer based on its characteristics (like tissue appearance, size, and spread) to predict its behavior and guide treatment.

Evaluating cancer cells' differentiation (how much they resemble normal cells) to assess its aggressiveness.

Determining cancer's size, spread to lymph nodes, and distant metastasis to understand its extent for effective treatment targeting.

A system for staging cancer based on Tumor size/spread (T), Lymph Node involvement (N), and Metastasis (M).

Well-differentiated cancer cells; closely resemble normal cells; often slow-growing.

Nearly anaplastic cancer cells; little resemblance to normal cells; usually aggressive.

Cancer is in situ; non-invasive (confined to the original tissue layer).

Cancer is large and/or highly invasive, spreading to adjacent organs.

Cancer has spread to distant locations in the body (metastasis).

The process by which cancer forms; involves changes in a cell's genome.

Genes introduced by viruses that stimulate cancer development.

A cancer of the lymphatic system, often linked to a translocation involving chromosome 8 and 14.

A chromosomal translocation in Burkitt’s lymphoma, where a proto-oncogene (c-myc) moves to the Immunoglobulin heavy chain locus.

A cancer of the blood characterized by a specific translocation (Philadelphia chromosome T(9;22)).

A chromosomal translocation in CML leading to the formation of the Philadelphia chromosome and activation of oncogene BCR-ABL

A fusion protein formed by a translocation in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). It activates a tyrosine kinase.

Cancer development from exposure to chemicals; involves initiation and promotion.

A substance that causes initial genetic damage leading to cancer.

A substance that stimulates abnormal cell growth and proliferation in the presence of initiated cells.

Substances that can increase the risk of developing cancer.

A carcinogen linked to lung and mesothelioma cancer.

A carcinogen associated with leukemia.

A carcinogen leading to skin cancer.

Carcinogens leading to leukemias, lung cancer, and other cancers.

A virus linked to cervical cancer development.

Noted chimney sweeps' cancer in 18th-century England.