›

Neoplasm Histopathology

Notes

Neoplasm Histopathology

Sections





Neoplasm Overview

The basic components of a tumor are the parenchyma and stroma.
— The parenchyma comprises the neoplastic cells.
— The stroma comprises the supporting connective tissues, blood vessels, and immune cells.

Interactions between these components determine the growth and behaviors of the neoplasm.

Benign tumors are localized, organized, and tend to display slower growth.
— Because of these characteristics, benign tumors are typically amenable to surgical removal, which may be necessary when benign tumors grow large enough to impair functioning of the surrounding tissues.

Malignant tumors are invasive, disorganized, and often grow erratically; they are potentially metastatic, which means they can cross anatomical boundaries.

Benign Tumors

Benign tumors are often named by combing the cell type of origin with the suffix "-oma;" however, some important exception to this rule are the malignant tumors of lymphoma, mesothelioma, and melanoma.

Adenoma of the thyroid gland
Well differentiated, which means that the tumor cells resemble that of the normal thyroid gland.
It is functional, as we can see numerous colloid-filled follicles.
Relatively normal looking nuclei.

Pancreatic tissue with serous cystadenomas
Microcysts
The pancreatic acini are relatively normal looking.
Serous cystadenomas are also often commonly found in the ovaries.

Squamous papillomas on the tongue
Numerous macroscopic fingerlike and warty projections.
When such projections extend into a lumen, they are called "polyps."

Malignant

Sarcomas are malignant tumors that form in sold mesenchymal tissue, such as bone, fat, and muscle.

Leukemias and lymphomas are cancers of the white blood cell lines.

Carcinomas are tumors that form from epithelial cells, such as in the skin or the internal linings of the organs.
— Squamous cell carcinomas: the tumor cells look like stratified squamous epithelium, and,
— Adenocarcinomas: the tumor cells grow in a glandular pattern.

"Undifferentiated malignant tumors" are those of unknown tissue origins.

Adenocarcinoma in the colon
This is anaplastic, that its, it is not well differentiated. The glandular tissue that has proliferated is not like that of the normal colon mucosa.
Even if this wasn't a malignant tumor, we can see how this would obstruct normal bowel functioning.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma
Pleiomorphic cells, which range from small to giant.
Large, hyperchromatic nuclei.
Several of the cells are in various stages of mitosis, reflective of their hyper-proliferative state.

Thyroid adenocarcinoma
The malignant tumor is anaplastic and disorganized.
It is nonfunctional, which we can see from the absence of colloid-filled follicles.

Metastatic brain tumor
It has irregular edges without a distinct enclosing capsule, which lends to its invasive nature.

Special Cases

Mixed tumors
The parenchymal cells of most tumors are uniform; however, denote that mixed tumors comprise multiple cell types.
For example, a mixed tumor of the salivary gland may comprise epithelial cells as well as other types not typically found in the gland.

Teratomas
The cells of most neoplasms are derived from a single germ cell layer; however, denote that teratomas comprise cells and tissues from multiple germ layers.
For example, we can see multiple tissue types in an ovarian teratoma, even hair and tooth-like structures.

Cancer references

  • Baker, S. J., and E. P. Reddy. "CDK4: A Key Player in the Cell Cycle, Development, and Cancer." Genes & Cancer 3, no. 11–12 (November 1, 2012): 658–69. https://doi.org/10.1177/1947601913478972.
  • Benigni, Romualdo, and Cecilia Bossa. "Mechanisms of Chemical Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity: A Review with Implications for Predictive Toxicology." Chemical Reviews 111, no. 4 (April 13, 2011): 2507–36. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr100222q.
  • Bosland, MaartenC, and AbeerM Mahmoud. "Hormones and Prostate Carcinogenesis: Androgens and Estrogens." Journal of Carcinogenesis 10, no. 1 (2011): 33. https://doi.org/10.4103/1477-3163.90678.
  • Burgio, Ernesto, and Lucia Migliore. "Towards a Systemic Paradigm in Carcinogenesis: Linking Epigenetics and Genetics." Molecular Biology Reports 42, no. 4 (April 2015): 777–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3804-3.
  • Cavallo, Federica, Carla De Giovanni, Patrizia Nanni, Guido Forni, and Pier-Luigi Lollini. "2011: The Immune Hallmarks of Cancer." Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 60, no. 3 (March 2011): 319–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-010-0968-0.
  • Cohen, S. M., and L. L. Arnold. "Chemical Carcinogenesis." Toxicological Sciences 120, no. Supplement 1 (March 1, 2011): S76–92. https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfq365.
  • Crusz, Shanthini M., and Frances R. Balkwill. "Inflammation and Cancer: Advances and New Agents." Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 12, no. 10 (October 2015): 584–96. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2015.105.
  • Dang, Chi V. "MYC on the Path to Cancer." Cell 149, no. 1 (March 2012): 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2012.03.003.
  • Demoulin, Jean-Baptiste, and Ahmed Essaghir. "PDGF Receptor Signaling Networks in Normal and Cancer Cells." Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 25, no. 3 (June 2014): 273–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cytogfr.2014.03.003.
  • Figueroa-Magalhães, Maria Cristina, Danijela Jelovac, Roisin M. Connolly, and Antonio C. Wolff. "Treatment of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer." The Breast 23, no. 2 (April 2014): 128–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2013.11.011.
  • Friedmann-Morvinski, D., and I. M. Verma. "Dedifferentiation and Reprogramming: Origins of Cancer Stem Cells." EMBO Reports 15, no. 3 (March 1, 2014): 244–53. https://doi.org/10.1002/embr.201338254.
  • Fujiki, Hirota, Eisaburo Sueoka, and Masami Suganuma. "Tumor Promoters: From Chemicals to Inflammatory Proteins." Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 139, no. 10 (October 2013): 1603–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-013-1455-8.
  • Gocek, Elzbieta, Anargyros N. Moulas, and George P. Studzinski. "Non-Receptor Protein Tyrosine Kinases Signaling Pathways in Normal and Cancer Cells." Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences 51, no. 3 (June 2014): 125–37. https://doi.org/10.3109/10408363.2013.874403.
  • Hadjimichael, Christiana, Konstantina Chanoumidou, Natalia Papadopoulou, Panagiota Arampatzi, Joseph Papamatheakis, and Androniki Kretsovali. "Common Stemness Regulators of Embryonic and Cancer Stem Cells" 7, no. 9 (n.d.): 36.
  • Hallinan, Niamh, Stephen Finn, Sinead Cuffe, Shereen Rafee, Kenneth O'Byrne, and Kathy Gately. "Targeting the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Family in Cancer." Cancer Treatment Reviews 46 (May 2016): 51–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.03.015.
  • Heldin, Carl-Henrik. "Targeting the PDGF Signaling Pathway in Tumor Treatment." Cell Communication and Signaling 11, no. 1 (2013): 97. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-811X-11-97.
    Hodgson, Shirley. "Mechanisms of Inherited Cancer Susceptibility." Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B 9, no. 1 (January 2008): 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B073001.
  • Iqbal, Nida, and Naveed Iqbal. "Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) in Cancers: Overexpression and Therapeutic Implications." Molecular Biology International 2014 (2014): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/852748.
  • Jang, Miran, Sung Soo Kim, and Jinhwa Lee. "Cancer Cell Metabolism: Implications for Therapeutic Targets." Experimental & Molecular Medicine 45, no. 10 (October 2013): e45–e45. https://doi.org/10.1038/emm.2013.85.
  • Katsuno, Yoko, Samy Lamouille, and Rik Derynck. "TGF-β Signaling and Epithelial–mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Progression:" Current Opinion in Oncology 25, no. 1 (January 2013): 76–84. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCO.0b013e32835b6371.
  • Landskron, Glauben, Marjorie De la Fuente, Peti Thuwajit, Chanitra Thuwajit, and Marcela A. Hermoso. "Chronic Inflammation and Cytokines in the Tumor Microenvironment." Journal of Immunology Research 2014 (2014): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/149185.
  • Liberti, Maria V., and Jason W. Locasale. "The Warburg Effect: How Does It Benefit Cancer Cells?" Trends in Biochemical Sciences 41, no. 3 (March 2016): 211–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2015.12.001.
  • Lippitz, Bodo E. "Cytokine Patterns in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review." The Lancet Oncology 14, no. 6 (May 2013): e218–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70582-X.
  • Lyons, S. M., E. Alizadeh, J. Mannheimer, K. Schuamberg, J. Castle, B. Schroder, P. Turk, D. Thamm, and A. Prasad. "Changes in Cell Shape Are Correlated with Metastatic Potential in Murine and Human Osteosarcomas." Biology Open 5, no. 3 (March 15, 2016): 289–99. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.013409.
  • Malarkey, David E., Mark Hoenerhoff, and Robert R. Maronpot. "Carcinogenesis." In Haschek and Rousseaux's Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology, 107–46. Elsevier, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-415759-0.00005-4.
  • Miller, D. M., S. D. Thomas, A. Islam, D. Muench, and K. Sedoris. "C-Myc and Cancer Metabolism." Clinical Cancer Research 18, no. 20 (October 15, 2012): 5546–53. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-12-0977.
  • Moolgavkar, Suresh H. "Model for Human Carcinogenesis: Action of Environmental Agents," n.d., 7.
  • Musgrove, Elizabeth A., C. Elizabeth Caldon, Jane Barraclough, Andrew Stone, and Robert L. Sutherland. "Cyclin D as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer." Nature Reviews Cancer 11, no. 8 (August 2011): 558–72. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3090.
  • Noy, Roy, and Jeffrey W. Pollard. "Tumor-Associated Macrophages: From Mechanisms to Therapy." Immunity 41, no. 1 (July 2014): 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2014.06.010.
  • Ornitz, David M., and Nobuyuki Itoh. "The Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling Pathway." Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Developmental Biology 4, no. 3 (May 2015): 215–66. https://doi.org/10.1002/wdev.176.
  • Philip, Mary, Donald A. Rowley, and Hans Schreiber. "Inflammation as a Tumor Promoter in Cancer Induction." Seminars in Cancer Biology 14, no. 6 (December 2004): 433–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2004.06.006.
  • Plaks, Vicki, Niwen Kong, and Zena Werb. "The Cancer Stem Cell Niche: How Essential Is the Niche in Regulating Stemness of Tumor Cells?" Cell Stem Cell 16, no. 3 (March 2015): 225–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2015.02.015.
  • Pylayeva-Gupta, Yuliya, Elda Grabocka, and Dafna Bar-Sagi. "RAS Oncogenes: Weaving a Tumorigenic Web." Nature Reviews Cancer 11, no. 11 (November 2011): 761–74. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3106.
  • Sancho, Patricia, David Barneda, and Christopher Heeschen. "Hallmarks of Cancer Stem Cell Metabolism." British Journal of Cancer 114, no. 12 (June 2016): 1305–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2016.152.
  • Soto, Ana M., and Carlos Sonnenschein. "Environmental Causes of Cancer: Endocrine Disruptors as Carcinogens." Nature Reviews Endocrinology 6, no. 7 (July 2010): 363–70. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2010.87.
  • Spano, Daniela, Chantal Heck, Pasqualino De Antonellis, Gerhard Christofori, and Massimo Zollo. "Molecular Networks That Regulate Cancer Metastasis." Seminars in Cancer Biology 22, no. 3 (June 2012): 234–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.03.006.
  • Szebeni, Gabor J., Csaba Vizler, Klara Kitajka, and Laszlo G. Puskas. "Inflammation and Cancer: Extra- and Intracellular Determinants of Tumor-Associated Macrophages as Tumor Promoters." Mediators of Inflammation 2017 (2017): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9294018.
  • Taniguchi, Koji, and Michael Karin. "IL-6 and Related Cytokines as the Critical Lynchpins between Inflammation and Cancer." Seminars in Immunology 26, no. 1 (February 2014): 54–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smim.2014.01.001.
  • Thompson, Erik W., and Donald F. Newgreen. "Carcinoma Invasion and Metastasis: A Role for Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition?" Cancer Research 65, no. 14 (July 15, 2005): 5991.1-5995. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-0616.
  • Tiwari, Neha, Alexander Gheldof, Marianthi Tatari, and Gerhard Christofori. "EMT as the Ultimate Survival Mechanism of Cancer Cells." Seminars in Cancer Biology 22, no. 3 (June 2012): 194–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2012.02.013.
  • Vineis, P., A. Schatzkin, and J. D. Potter. "Models of Carcinogenesis: An Overview." Carcinogenesis 31, no. 10 (October 1, 2010): 1703–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgq087.
  • Witsch, Esther, Michael Sela, and Yosef Yarden. "Roles for Growth Factors in Cancer Progression." Physiology 25, no. 2 (April 2010): 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00045.2009.
  • Ye, Xin, and Robert A. Weinberg. "Epithelial–Mesenchymal Plasticity: A Central Regulator of Cancer Progression." Trends in Cell Biology 25, no. 11 (November 2015): 675–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2015.07.012.
  • Yin, Shuping, Vino T. Cheryan, Liping Xu, Arun K. Rishi, and Kaladhar B. Reddy. "Myc Mediates Cancer Stem-like Cells and EMT Changes in Triple Negative Breast Cancers Cells." Edited by Rajeev Samant. PLOS ONE 12, no. 8 (August 17, 2017): e0183578. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183578.
  • Zervantonakis, I. K., S. K. Hughes-Alford, J. L. Charest, J. S. Condeelis, F. B. Gertler, and R. D. Kamm. "Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Model for Tumor Cell Intravasation and Endothelial Barrier Function." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109, no. 34 (August 21, 2012): 13515–20. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1210182109.

Images:
Ovarian teratoma (Ed Uthman)
Gross image of Colon (Emanuelm)
Histology (Mark Braun, MD: http://medsci.indiana.edu/c602web/602/c602web/toc.htm).