Epithelial cancer mechanism and characteristics

Published on Nov 24th, 2011 under All.By andrew

MECHANISM OF CARCINOMA :
A variable number of steps occur during the change from the normal to the fully malignant cell . The first step apparently occurs in a single cell , cancer is a monoclonal disease . The change ( mutation ) in the first neoplastic cell is a random process . Any given etiologic factor simply increases the probability that any particular cell will transform , but how this happens is still unknown .

CHARACTERISTICS OF EPITHELIAL CANCER :
Groups of abnormally proliferating cells can arise in any part of the body . These neoplasms share certain characteristics , both in vitro and in vivo . Besides the major components found in all neoplasms , important properties inculed clonality , autonomy , a blood supply , and , in malignant neoplasms , the capacity to metastasize .

IMMUNE HOST RESPONSES TO MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS :
At least in animal studies , autoimmune reactions to cancer cells are common , the ability of  cancer cells to stimulate the immune mechanism in humans is usually quite small & is probably inconsequential as a defense mechanism .

Tumer antigens : some antigens on the surface of cancer cells are much the smae as those on   normal cells ( example : organ specific antigen & histocompatibility antigen . ) . Most cancer cells also appears yo possess antigenic specificities that are nonexistent in normal cells . Some of  these , such as carcinoembryonic antigen ( CEA ) & alpha fetoprotien ( AFP ) , may result from  derepression of the parts of the genome that normally function only in embryonic life .

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