Introduction to cancer

CANCER

Synonyms:

Neoplasm
Tumour

The term ‘neoplasia’ means new growth.

The new growth produced is called ‘neoplasm’ or

‘tumour’.

However, all ‘new growths’ are not neoplasms.

 Definition

A mass of tissue formed as a result of

abnormal,
excessive,
uncoordinated,
autonomous and
purposeless
proliferation of cells even after cessation of stimulus
for growth which caused it’.
 Symbol of Cancer

The word ‘cancer’ means crab, thus

reflecting the true character of cancer
since ‘it sticks to the part stubbornly
like a crab’.
Cancers or Neoplasms or Tumours are majorly Classified
into two types:

Benign tumours: Slowly growing ones

Malignant tumours: Rapidly growing ones

Basic differences between benign and malignant

tumours
Benign Tumours Malignant Tumours
Slow growth Rapid growth
Cant invade Invade into other tissues
Cant metastasize Undergo metastasis
Causes less harm Causes more harm even death
 Components of Tumours

Parenchyma’ comprised by proliferating tumour cells;

parenchyma determines the nature and evolution of the
tumour.

‘Supportive stroma’ composed of fibrous connective

tissue and blood vessels; it provides the framework on
which the parenchymal tumour cells grow.
 Parenchymal
cells

Supportive
Stroma

Parenchymal cells are of two types:

1. Epithelial cells
2. Mesenchymal cells
 Nomenclature of tumours

Nomenclature is based on Parenchymal

component which will be added by suffix ‘oma’.

Malignant tumour of epithelial cells - Carcinoma

Malignant tumour of Mesenchymal cell – Sarcoma

Exceptions:

Carcinoma of Melanocytes – Melanoma

Carcinoma of Hepatocytes – Hepatoma
Cancer of Blood cells - Leukaemia
 Characteristics of tumours

1.Excessive growth:
Benign tumours grow Slowly
Malignant tumours grow rapidly

 Rate of growth depend on doubling time of

parenchymal cells.
 If doubling time is less rate of growth is fast, if it is
more rate of growth is less
 Tumour growth also depends on the availability of
growth factors and nutrients.
Rate of proliferation > Rate of cell death
2. Cancer phenotype:

i) Cancer cells disobey the growth controlling signals in the

body and thus proliferate rapidly.
ii) Cancer cells escape death signals and achieve immortality.
iii) Imbalance between cell proliferation and cell death in
cancer causes excessive growth.
iv) Cancer cells lose properties of differentiation and thus
perform little or no function.
v) Due to loss of growth controls, cancer cells are genetically
unstable and develop newer mutations.

Antisocial Behaviour
3.Invasion: Malignant tumours grow rapidly and
invade in to neighboring tissues.

4. Metastasis: Malignant tumours spread from one

place to another place through blood vessels,
lymphatics and tissue spaces and forms a new
tumours.
Feature Benign Malignant
Invasion NO YES
Metastasis NO YES
5. Abnormal cytomorphology
6. Presence of abnormal and atypical mitotic figures:

Normal cells

Bipolar Mitosis

Cancer cells

Tripolar Quadripolar
7. Tumour angiogenesis:

Tumours are rapidly proliferated ones so requires

more oxygen and nutrients.
So tumour cells with the help of VEGF (Vascular
Endothelial Growth Factor) initiates angiogenesis and
form new blood vessels.
As the tumour grows more number of blood vessels
will be formed on the periphery and nourishes the
tumour.
As the tumour size increases the tumour cell in the
core of the tumour will die of Necrosis.
 8. Differentiation and Anaplasia:

In general tumours structurally and functionally

different from normal tissues.
Extent of structural and functional resemblance is
known as Differrentiation.

If resemblance with normal tissue is more - Well

Differrentiated tumour
If resemblance with normal tissue is less - Poorly
Differrentiated tumour
Lack of differrentiation/Resemblance - Anaplastic
Tumour
*Comparision should be done
between a normal tissue and its
corresponding tumour.
Extent of Resemblance is more so
Well differrentiated

Extent of Resemblance is Less so

Poorly differrentiated

Lack of Resemblance so
Anaplastic
Thank you