Tumor invasion and metastasis — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Tumor cells upregulate _____ to evade anti-tumor T-cells

Answer: PD-L1

Flashcard 2: The most common type of metastases to the bone from the kidney are _____

Answer: lytic (lesion type)

Flashcard 3: Carcinomas can also directly seed _____ structures

Answer: peritoneal

Flashcard 4: While the 'seed and soil' hypothesis explains specific organ tropism, the site of metastasis is often simply determined by the first encountered _____

Answer: capillary bed

Flashcard 5: Tumor _____ defines the degree of localization/spread

Answer: staging

Flashcard 6: Invasive carcinoma invades through the basement membrane using _____ to access the extracellular matrix

Answer: matrix metalloproteinases

Flashcard 7: Ovarian tumor associated with a pulling sensation in the groin and histology showing bundles of spindle-shaped fibroblasts?

Answer: Ovarian Fibroma

Extra: • Clinical: Pulling sensation in groin. • Histology: Bundles of spindle-shaped fibroblasts. • Association: Meigs syndrome (Ovarian fibroma, Ascites, Hydrothorax).

Flashcard 8: What is the characteristic histological finding and cell type in a Brenner tumor?

Answer: "Coffee bean" nuclei; contains Walthard cell rests (transitional epithelium)

Extra: Brenner tumor: - Mostly benign ovarian surface epithelial tumor. - Histology: Characterized by "coffee bean" nuclei (longitudinal nuclear grooves) and nests of transitional epithelium (resembling bladder mucosa) called Walthard cell rests. - Gross: Solid, tan-white/yellow, well-encapsulated.

Flashcard 9: Is mucinous cystadenocarcinoma benign or malignant?

Answer: Malignant

Extra: Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is the malignant counterpart of mucinous cystadenoma. It is a common primary surface epithelial tumor of the ovary, characterized by multiloculated cysts lined by atypically proliferated mucinous epithelium showing stromal invasion.

Flashcard 10: Morphological features of Mucinous Cystadenoma?

Answer: Multilocular cyst lined by mucus-secreting epithelium (Benign)

Extra: Mucinous cystadenomas are most commonly found in the ovary or pancreas. Characterized by large, multiloculated cysts filled with gelatinous fluid. Unlike serous cystadenomas, these are less likely to be bilateral in the ovary.