Cancer Patho/Pharmacology Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Cancer Patho/Pharmacology Deck (25)
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1
Q

Oncology

A

Branch of medicine that deals with prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer (cancer biology).

2
Q

Cancer

A

Large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells (malignant neoplasm).

3
Q

Neoplasm

A

Heritably altered, relatively autonomous growth of tissue (new growth).

4
Q

Tumor

A

Any swelling or mass of tissue occupying a volume of space.

5
Q

Benign

A

Non-invasive and focal characteristics. Relatively differentiated.

6
Q

Malignant

A

Dedifferentiated, invasive, and/or metastatic cancer.

7
Q

Carcinoma

A
  • Most common cancer
  • Cells that cover external/internal body surfaces
  • Lung, breast, prostate, and colon
8
Q

Sarcomas

A
  • Cancer arising from cells found in supporting tissues of the body
  • Bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle
9
Q

Lymphomas

A

Cancers that arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body’s immune system.

10
Q

Blastomas

A

Cancers of primitive, incompletely differentiated cells resembling the precursor cells of the cancer.

11
Q

Melanoma

A
  • Cancer originating in melanocytes

- Melanocytes are located in the stratum germinativum of the epidermis and produce melanin

12
Q

Early Neoplasm Progression

A
  • Goes through Initiation, Promotion, and Progression
  • Before the neoplasm has invaded beyond certain boundaries and remains localized, it can be considered preneoplastic lesion
13
Q

Invasion/Metastasis

A
  • Invasion: cancer cells invade surrounding tissues and blood vessels
  • Metastasis: cancer cells are transported by the circulatory system to distant sites
  • Cancer cells reinvade and grow at new location
14
Q

Tumor Grading

A
  • Measure of cancer’s antiplastic characteristics (reversion of differentiation)
  • Based on resemblance of neoplasm to the tissue of origin
15
Q

Tumor Staging

A

Assess cancer progression by:

  1. Size of tumor and how deeply it has invaded surrounding tissues
  2. Spreading of cancer cells to regional lymph nodes
  3. Metastasis of cancer to other regions of the body
16
Q

Principles of Cancer Chemotherapy

A
  1. Anti-proliferation
  2. Differential sensitivity
  3. Characteristics of cancer chemotherapy
17
Q

Anti-proliferation

A
  • Cancer cells don’t divide faster but are more actively dividing
  • Higher growth fraction
18
Q

Differential Sensitivity

A

Chemotherapy needs to be more cytotoxic to the neoplastic cells compared to normal cells

19
Q

Characteristics of Cancer Chemotherapies

A
  • Goal: Rid body of neoplastic cells, prevent their growth, shrink the neoplasm, increase survival
  • Narrow Therapeutic Index
  • Palliation: alleviate symptoms of cancer and reduce life-threatening toxicity to improve QoL
20
Q

Factors Affecting Response to Chemotherapy

A
  1. Tumor Burden
  2. Tumor Cell Heterogeneity
  3. Drug Resistance
  4. Dose Intensity
  5. Patient-specific Factors
21
Q

Tumor Burden

A
  • Larger tumors have lower growth fractions
  • Less responsiveness
  • Greater propensity to metastasize
22
Q

Tumor Cell Heterogeneity

A

Genetic changes to cells cause significant cellular variation

23
Q

Drug Resistance

A

Inherited or acquired resistance to chemotherapy

24
Q

Dose Intensity

A

Intended chemotherapy doses may not be given due to toxicity

25
Q

Patient-Specific Factors

A

Intended chemotherapy doses may not be given due to toxicity