Chapter 5 Neoplasm
§1. Definition and morphology of tumor
1. Concept: Tumor (neoplasm): under the stimulation of tumorigenic agents, a single cell of local tissue lost the controlling to its growth at the gene level, excessive hyperplasia to form neoplasm
2. Distinguish between neoplastic and nonneoplastic proliferation
Neoplastic proliferation Nonneoplastic proliferation
Proliferation Monoclonality Polyclonality
Morphology and function Abnormal Normal
Differentiation Abnormal Matured
Growth Persistent, autonomy Limited
Influence Harmful Beneficial
3. Morphology and structure
(1)Macropathology: Number, Size, Shape, Color, Texture
(2)Histological structure
①Parenchyma: Neoplastic cell: determine the biologic feature and differentiation
②Stroma: Connective tissue, Blood vessel, Lymphocyte infiltration
§2. Neoplastic differentiation and atypia
1. Differentiation
(1)Definition: Refer to the extent to which neoplastic cells resemble comparable its originated normal cells, both morphologically and functionally
(2)Degree of differentiation: well differentiated, poorly differentiated, undifferentiated
2. Atypia: Neoplastic tissue has various extent of differences with its originated normal tissue, both cell morphologically and tissue architecturally
Anaplasia: Lack of differentiation of malignant neoplastic cell, with obvious atypia
Anaplastic neoplasm: Composed of undifferentiated cell, with obvious atypia
Pleomorphism: Obvious variation in size and shape, with obvious atypia
(1)Architectural atypia
Refer to difference between neoplastic tissue and its originated normal tissue on arrangement (polarization, organ-like structure, the relationship with stroma)
(2)Cellular atypia
①Pleomorphism of neoplastic cells
·Variation in size and shape
·Generally larger than normal cells (tumor giant cells)
②Pleomorphism of nucleus
·Increased nucleus: The nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio may approach 1:1 instead of the normal 1:4-1:6
·Variation in size, color and shape: Size: Huge, two or more nuclei, bizarre nuclei
Color: DNA↑, hyperchromasia
Shape: The chromatin is coarsely clumped and distributed along the nuclear membrane
Increased mitotic figures: atypical, bizarre, multipolar mitotic figures
③Changes of cytoplasm
·Basophilia → nucleoprotein increased
·Abnormal products or secretion: Mucus, glycogen, lipid → helpful to determine histogenesis of tumor
④Ultrastructural changes
Organelles: signs of histogenesis
·Neuroendocrine granules → neuroendocrine tumor
·Tonofilament and desmosomes → squamous cell carcinoma
·Myofilament and dense body → SMC
§3. Growth and spread of tumor
1. Biology of tumor growth
(1)Monoclonality: Tumor is formed by a transformed cell proliferation
(2)The natural history of most malignant tumors
①Malignant transformation in the target cell
②Clonal growth of the transformed cell
③Local invasion
④Distant metastasis
(3)The multiple factors that influence tumor growth:
①Kinetics of tumor cell growth
·Doubling time of tumor cells: In reality, cell cycle time for many tumors is equal to or longer than that of corresponding normal cells, growth of tumor is not associated with a shortening of cell doubling time
·Growth fraction: The proportion of cells within the tumor population that are in the proliferative pool (S + G2 phase)
·Tumor cell production and loss: Growth of tumors are determined by the excess of cell production over cell loss
②Tumor angiogenesis
Angiogenesis factors: tumor cells, infiltrated Macrophages → VEGF, FGF
③Tumor progression and heterogeneity
·Tumor progression: Malignant tumor become more aggressive in the process of growth, including accelerated growth, local invasion, distant metastasis
·Tumor heterogeneity: In the process of growth, monoclonal tumor cells generate subclones with different characteristics, such as invasiveness, rate of growth, hormonal responsiveness, susceptibility to antineoplastic drugs
2. Growth pattern of tumor
(1)Expansile growth: The mode of most benign tumor, well demarcated, intact capsule
(2)Exophytic growth: The mode of both benign and malignant tumor (also grow by infiltrating)
Sites: surface of body, body cavities, tract organs
Shape: papillary, polypoid, cauliflower
(3)Infiltrating growth: The mode of most malignant tumor, absence of capsule, infiltrate and destroy surrounding tissue
3. Spread of tumor
(1)Local invasion and direct spreading
①Cell adhesion molecules↓, detachment of the tumor cells from each other
②Attachment to BM↑
③Degradation of extracellular matrix
④Migration of tumor cells
(2)Metastasis
Malignant tumor cells invade into lymphatics, blood vessles and body cavities from primary site, reach remote site, continue growth to form the same type tumor
①Lymphatic metastasis
·The most common pathway for the initial dissemination of carcinoma
·Common sites: Lung, Gastrointestinal tract → Left supraclavicular lymph node
②Hematogeneous metastasis
·The favored pathway of sarcoma
·Common sites: Lung (most), Liver, Bone
·Features of metastatic tumor: Clear border, scattered in distribution, multiple, close to surface of organ
·Carcinoma umbilicus: Metastatic tumor located surface of the organ form umbilication because of central hemorrhage and necrosis
③Transcoelomic metastasis
·Definition: Malignant tumor of organ in body cavity (pleural, peritoneal cavity) penetrate into the surface of the organ, tumor cells drop to seed in the surface of the other organs of body cavity and form majority of metastatic tumor
·Krukenberg tumor: Gastric carcinoma destroy gastric wall, tumor cells seed in the ovaries to form metastatic tumor
§4. Grading and staging of tumor
1. Grading of tumor
·Grade Ⅰ: well differentiated
·Grade Ⅱ: moderately differentiated
·Grade Ⅲ: poorly differentiated
2. Staging of tumor
TNM classification
·T: primary tumor: T1-T4
·N: regional lymph node involved: N0; N1-N3
·M: metastasis: M0; M1
§5. Effects of tumor on host
1. Benign tumor: Local oppression and obstruction
2. Malignant tumor
(1)Local oppression and obstruction, pain, fever, weight loss
(2)Cachexia: Refer to the state of progressive loss of weight, anemia, weakness and systemic failure
(3)Ectopic endocrine syndrome: Some non-endocrine tumors elaborate hormones or hormone-like substance (ACTH, PTH, ADH, insulin), give rise to endocrine disorder and show homologous symptoms
(4)Paraneoplastic syndrome: Neoplastic products (ectopic hormones) or abnormal immune reaction or other unclear causes lead to lesions of endocrine, nervous, digestive system and so on
§6. Difference between benign and malignant tumor
Benign Malignant
Differentiation well, unobvious atypia poor, obvious atypia
Mitotic figures no or rare numerous
no pathologic mitosis pathologic mitosis
Growth speed slow rapid
Growth pattern Expansile or exophytic growth Infiltrating or exophytic growth
Secondary changes rare common (hemorrhage, necrosis, ulcer)
Metastasis never frequent
Recurrence rare often
Effects on host unobvious obvious
local oppression and obstruction infiltrate the surrounding normal tissues
secondary changes, cachexia
§7. Nomenclature and classification
1. Nomenclature
(1)Benign tumor
Histogenesis + "oma": Fibroma, Adenoma
(2)Malignant tumor
·Carcinoma: Arising in epithelial cell: Squamous cell carcimnoma, Adenocarcinoma
·Sarcoma: Arising in mesenchymal tissue: Fibrosarcoma, Liposarcoma, Leiomyosarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma
·Carcinosarcoma
(3)Others
·Arising in totipotential cells: Teratoma
·-blastoma: Neuroblastoma, Medulloblastoma
·Malignant-: Malignant melanoma, Malignant meningioma
·Custom: Leukemia, Seminoma
·Name: Ewing's sarcoma, Hodgkin lymphoma
·Tumor cell morphology: Clear cell sarcoma
·-omatosis: Neurofibromatosis, Lipomatosis
2. Classification
·/0: benign
·/1: borderline, unspecified, uncertain
·/2: carcinoma in situ, grade Ⅲ intraepithelial neoplasia, noninvasive
·/3: malignant
§8. Precancerous lesions, dysplasia and carcinoma in situ
1. Precancerous lesions
(1)Concept: Certain benign lesions possess the possibility of cancerization, which progress to cancinoma with duration
(2)Common precancerous lesions
①Adenoma of large intestines
②Chronic cervicitis and cervical erosion
③Mammary fibrocystic disease
④Chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia
⑤Ulcerative colitis
⑥Chronic ulcer of skin
⑦Leukoplakia: oral cavity, vulva
2. Dysplasia (atypical hyperplasia)
Proliferative epithelium possess a certain extent of atypia, commonly arise in squamous epithelium and glandular epithelium
3. Carcinoma in situ
Severe dysplasia totally involved to the mucosa or epidermis, without penetration of the basement membrane
§9. Introduction of common tumors
1. Epithelial tumor
(1)Benign epithelial tumor
①Papilloma
·Origin: Squamous epithelium, Transitional epithelium
·Sites: Skin, Urinary tract
·Gross: Papillary mass (exophytic) with pedicle
·LM: Papillary epithelium, connective tissue core → Finger-like structure
②Adenoma
·Origin: Glandular epithelium
·Sites: Thyroid gland, Ovary, Breast, Intestines
·Gross: Polypoid, Papillary, Nodular
·Types: Tubular adenoma and villous adenoma: Sites: Rectum, Colon
Character: Multiple (liable to canceration)
Cystadenoma: Site: Ovary
Types: Serous papillary cystadenoma (liable to canceration)
Mucinous cystadenoma
Fibroadenoma: Site: Breast
Pleomorphic adenoma: Origin: Glandular epithelial cells and myoepithelial cells
Sites: Parotid, Salivary gland
Lesion: Epithelial tissue + Mucoid tissue + Cartilage-like tissue
Character: liable to recurrence
(2)Malignant epithelial tumor
①Squamous cell carcinoma
·Sites: Skin, Oral cavity, Esophagus, Larynx, Cervix, Vulva
·Gross: Cauliflower
·LM: Well differentiated: Keratin pearl, Intercullular bridge
②Adenocarcinoma
·Tuburlar adenocarcinoma: Sites: Gastrointestinal tract, Thyroid gland, Gallbladder, Uterus body
·Papillary adenocarcinoma: Sites: Thyroid gland, Ovary
·Solid carcinoma: Sites: Breast, Thyroid gland, Stomach
Types: Carcinoma simplex: parenchyma ≈ stroma
Scirrhous carcinoma: parenchyma < stroma
Medullary carcinoma: parenchyma > stroma
·Mucinous (colloid) carcinoma: Sites: Stomach, Large intestine
Lesion: signet-ring cell
③Basal cell carcinoma
·Sites: Commonly in the face of old man, such as eyelid, nosewing
·Gross: Ulcer, growth slowly
·LM: Cancerous cells like basal cells
·Character: Less metastasis, sensitive to radiotherapy
④Transitional cell carcinoma
Sites: Bladder, Ureter, Renal pelvis
2. Mesenchymal tumor
(1)Benign mesenchymal tumor
①Fibroma
·Origin: Fibrous connective tissue
·Sites: Subcutis of extremities and trunk
·Gross: Intact capsule, nodular, gray, pliable and tough
·LM: Well differentiated tumor cells are spindle shape and arrange in a crisscross pattern
②Lipoma
③Hemangioma
④Leiomyoma
·Sites: Uterus, Gastrointestinal tract
·Gross: Nodular, intact capsule, gray, firm
·LM: Fascicles of spindle cells arrange in a crisscross pattern, blunt-ended elongated nuclei
⑤Chondroma
(2)Malignant mesenchymal tumor
①Fibrosarcoma
·Origin: Fibrous connective tissue (fibroblast)
·Sites: Subcutis of extremities
·Gross: Soft, fish-fleshy, with hemorrhage and necrosis
②Liposarcoma
·Origin: Original mesenchymal tissue
·Sites: Retroperitoneum, deep soft tissue of extremities
·Gross: Nodular, lobular
·LM: Lipoblast
·Age: Adult (>40)
③Rhabdomyosarcoma
·Age: Children (<10) and infant
·Sites: Head, Neck, Genitourinary tract
·Lesions: Rhabdomyoblast
④Leiomyosarcoma
·Sites: Uterus, Gastrointestinal tract, Retroperitoneum, Mesentery
·Gross: fish-fleshy, with hemorrhage and necrosis
·LM: Spindle cells arrange in interweaving fascicle
⑤Angiosarcoma
·Origin: Endothelium of blood vessel
·Sites: Skin (common), organs
·Gross: Nodular, papular, commonly necrosis and hemorrhage
⑥Chondrosarcoma
·Age: 40-70
·Site: Pelvis
·Gross: Semitransparent, spotty calcification
·LM: Cartilage cell with atypia scattered in cartilage matrix
⑦Osteosarcoma
·Age: Adolescent
·Origin: Osteoblast
·Sites: Lower part of thighbone, Upper part of shankbone
·Gross: Gray-white, fish-fleshy, with hemorrhage and necrosis
·LM: Tumor bone
3. Difference between carcinoma and sarcoma
Carcinoma Sarcoma
Origin Epithelial tissue Mesenchymal tissue
Incidence Common, adult (>40) Less, the young
Gross Hard, gray-white, dry Soft, gray-red, wet, fish-fleshy
Histology Cancerous nests Diffuse arrangment
Border between parenchyma and stroma Clear Unclear
Reticulum fiber Abscence Presence
Immunohistochemistry Epithelial marker CK (+) Mesenchymal marker Vimentin (+)
Metastasis Lymphatic Hematogeneous
4. Neuroectoderm derived tumor
(1)Central nervous system tumor
(2)Peripheral nervous system tumor
(3)Diffuse neuroendocrine system tumor
(4)Retinoblastoma
·Age: Infant (<3)
·Origin: Embryo of retina
·LM: Composed of roundlet cells, arrange in chrysanthemum pattern
(5)Pigmented nevus
(6)Malignant melanoma
§10. Molecular basis of oncogenesis
1. Oncogene
(1)Proto-oncogene: Cellular genes that promote normal cells growth and differentiation, exist in normal cells, in the form of inactivity
(2)Activation of proto-oncogene
·Concept: Proto-oncogene → Cellular oncogene
·Mode: Point mutation
Gene amplification
Chromosomal translocation
2. Tumor suppressor gene
·Concept: Cellular genes that exist in normal cells, inhibit normal growth, cause cells to malignant transform when they are inactive
·Examples: Rb, p53, P16
3. Genes that regulate apoptosis and DNA repair
·Bcl-2: inhibit apoptosis
·Bax: induce apoptosis
4. Telomere and tumor
§11. Environmental factors of oncogenesis
1. Chemical carcinogenic agents
(1)Indirect-acting agents
①Polycyclic hydrocarbons
②Aromatic amines and azo dyes
③Nitrosamines
④Aflatoxin
(2)Direct-acting agents
2. Physical carcinogenic factors
(1)Ionizing radiation: X-ray, γ-ray
(2)UV
3. Biologic carcigenic agents
(1)RNA virus
HTLV-1: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
(2)DNA virus
①Human papilloma virus (HPV)
②Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
③Hepatitis virus B (HBV)