Oncology Notes
ONCOLOGIC NURSING
CANCER
A group of heterogeneous diseases that share common biologic properties.
All cancers are genetic and share common molecular pathogenesis and are a result of mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Abnormal cell differentiation and growth results in an abnormal mass of tissue, called a neoplasm.
Benign Growth Patterns
Hypertrophy – increase in cell size
Hyperplasia – increase in cell number
Metaplasia – conversion of one cell type to another
Dysplasia – abnormal changes in size, shape or organization of cells
Characteristics
Altered cell differentiation
Appearance changes
Altered metabolism
Tumor-specific antigens
HCG – trophoblastic tumors
Calcitonin – thyroid carcinoma
Catecholamine and metabolites – pheochromocytoma
Alpha fetoprotein – liver cell cancer
PSA – prostate cancer
Immunoglobulins – myeloma and other gammopathies
CA-125 – ovarian cancer
CA-19-9 – Colon, Pancreatic cancer
CA15-3 – breast cancer
Altered cellular function
CELL CYCLE
G1 – hours to days; RNA and CHON synthesis
S phase – 10-20 hours; DNA replication
G2 – 2-10hours; DNA synthesis stops, RNA and CHON synthesis continue
M phase (Mitosis) – 30-60 mins; Cell division occurs: Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase
G0 – resting phase
MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS OF CANCER
Self-sufficiency in growth signals
Insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals
Evasion of apoptosis
Defects in DNA repair
Limitless replication potential
Sustained angiogenesis
Ability to invade and metastasize
CARCINOGENIC FACTORS
Heredity
Environmental agents such as chemicals and radiation
Oncogenic viruses
Bacteria and Parasites
Immune system deficiencies
METASTASIS
Growth and progression of the primary tumor
Angiogenesis at the primary site
Local invasion
Detachment and embolization
Arrest in distant organ capillary beds
Extravasation
Proliferation
CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING
Tumor markers
Diagnostic imaging
CANCER
A group of heterogeneous diseases that share common biologic properties.
All cancers are genetic and share common molecular pathogenesis and are a result of mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Abnormal cell differentiation and growth results in an abnormal mass of tissue, called a neoplasm.
Benign Growth Patterns
Hypertrophy – increase in cell size
Hyperplasia – increase in cell number
Metaplasia – conversion of one cell type to another
Dysplasia – abnormal changes in size, shape or organization of cells
Characteristics
Altered cell differentiation
Appearance changes
Altered metabolism
Tumor-specific antigens
HCG – trophoblastic tumors
Calcitonin – thyroid carcinoma
Catecholamine and metabolites – pheochromocytoma
Alpha fetoprotein – liver cell cancer
PSA – prostate cancer
Immunoglobulins – myeloma and other gammopathies
CA-125 – ovarian cancer
CA-19-9 – Colon, Pancreatic cancer
CA15-3 – breast cancer
Altered cellular function
CELL CYCLE
G1 – hours to days; RNA and CHON synthesis
S phase – 10-20 hours; DNA replication
G2 – 2-10hours; DNA synthesis stops, RNA and CHON synthesis continue
M phase (Mitosis) – 30-60 mins; Cell division occurs: Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase
G0 – resting phase
MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS OF CANCER
Self-sufficiency in growth signals
Insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals
Evasion of apoptosis
Defects in DNA repair
Limitless replication potential
Sustained angiogenesis
Ability to invade and metastasize
CARCINOGENIC FACTORS
Heredity
Environmental agents such as chemicals and radiation
Oncogenic viruses
Bacteria and Parasites
Immune system deficiencies
METASTASIS
Growth and progression of the primary tumor
Angiogenesis at the primary site
Local invasion
Detachment and embolization
Arrest in distant organ capillary beds
Extravasation
Proliferation
CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING
Tumor markers
Diagnostic imaging