Oncology

Cancer is a group of diseases involving uncontrolled cell growth typically resulting in tumors with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These malignant tumors contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Over 100 types of cancers affect humans.

Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist.

A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists in growing abnormally, even if the original trigger is removed. This abnormal growth usually forms a mass, which may be called a tumour or tumor.

thumb|Normal squamous cells thumb|Dysplastic cells Dysplasia is any of various types of abnormal growth or development of cells (microscopic scale) or organs (macroscopic scale), and the abnormal histology or anatomical structure(s) resulting from such growth. Dysplasias on a mainly microscopic scale include epithelial dysplasia and fibrous dysplasia of bone. Dysplasias on a mainly macroscopic scale include hip dysplasia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and multicystic dysplastic kidney.

Malignancy () is the tendency of a medical condition to become progressively worse; the term is most familiar as a characterization of cancer.

Metaplasia () is the transformation of a cell type to another cell type. The change from one type of cell to another may be part of a normal maturation process, or caused by some sort of abnormal stimulus. In simplistic terms, it is as if the original cells are not robust enough to withstand their environment, so they transform into another cell type better suited to their environment. If the stimulus causing metaplasia is removed or ceases, tissues return to their normal pattern of differentiation. Metaplasia is not synonymous with dysplasia, and is not considered to be an actual cancer. It i

Anaplasia () is a condition of cells with poor cellular differentiation, losing the morphological characteristics of mature cells and their orientation with respect to each other and to endothelial cells. The term also refers to a group of morphological changes in a cell (nuclear pleomorphism, altered nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, presence of nucleoli, high proliferation index) that point to a possible malignant transformation.

pain caused by cancer or by the treatment of cancer

Diagnosis classification.

cellular proliferation that results in abnormal growths in the body, which do not invade or destroy the surrounding tissue, but in time will transform into a cancer

small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin

modified cellular metabolism form found in cancer cells, which preferentially use glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation for energy production.

class of enzymes, phosphotransferases that catalyze the conversion of 1-phosphatidylinositol to 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C, C9H9NO) is produced by the breakdown of the glucosinolate glucobrassicin, which can be found at relatively high levels in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, collard greens and kale. It is also available in dietary supplements. Indole-3-carbinol is the subject of on-going biomedical research into its possible anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti-atherogenic effects. Research on indole-3-carbinol has been conducted primarily using laboratory animals and cultured cells. Limited and inconclusive human studies have been report

an unanticipated finding which is not related to the original diagnostic inquiry

CD47 (Cluster of Differentiation 47) also known as integrin associated protein (IAP) is a transmembrane protein that in humans is encoded by the CD47 gene. CD47 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and partners with membrane integrins and also binds the ligands thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) and signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα). CD-47 acts as a ''don't eat me'' signal to macrophages of the immune system which has made it a potential therapeutic target in some cancers, and more recently, for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

milieu surrounding neoplasms of cells, vessels, soluble factors and molecules

Dynamic structural changes to eukaryotic chromatin occurring throughout the cell division cycle. These changes range from the local changes necessary for transcriptional regulation to global changes necessary for chromosome segregation.

indicator of general well-being for cancer patients

diminution or abatement of a disease over time, without formal treatment

Survivin, also called baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5 or BIRC5, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the BIRC5 gene.

lymphocyte that show specificity for autologous tumor cells

model predicting health effects of radiation

transcriptional factor that helps embryonic stem cells maintain pluripotency by suppressing cell determination factors

occurrence of highly polymorphic microsatellite repeats in somatic cells

palpable nodule bulging into the umbilicus

high frequency of mutations within the genome of a cellular lineage

Carcinosis, or carcinomatosis, is disseminated cancer, forms of metastasis, whether used generally or in specific patterns of spread.

biochemical test

the property by which certain sizes of molecules tend to accumulate in tumor tissue

pressure and/or displacement of adjacent tissues that results from the growth of a mass

type of macrophage

research into cancer to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure

mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

fragments of extrachromosomal DNA in human tumors

Radiosensitivity is the relative susceptibility of cells, tissues, organs or organisms to the harmful effect of ionizing radiation.

medical condition

protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

substance or process that is indicative of the presence of cancer in the body

Immunoediting is a dynamic process that consists of immunosurveillance and tumor progression. It describes the relation between the tumor cells and the immune system. It is made up of three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

The spread of a malignant neoplasm to the lymph nodes

medical condition

class of enzymes

medical condition

protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

medical symptom

Pseudoenzymes are variants of enzymes that are catalytically-deficient (usually inactive), meaning that they perform little or no enzyme catalysis. They are believed to be represented in all major enzyme families in the kingdoms of life, where they have important signaling and metabolic functions, many of which are only now coming to light. Pseudoenzymes are becoming increasingly important to analyse, especially as the bioinformatic analysis of genomes reveals their ubiquity. Their important regulatory and sometimes disease-associated functions in metabolic and signalling pathways are also she

reversible biological process

doctor specializing in radiation therapy to treat cancer

In materials science, friability ( ), the condition of being friable, describes the tendency of a solid substance to break into smaller pieces under stress or contact, especially by rubbing. The opposite of friable is indurate.

Intravasation is the invasion of cancer cells through the basement membrane into a blood or lymphatic vessel. Intravasation is one of several carcinogenic events that initiate the escape of cancerous cells from their primary sites. Other mechanisms include invasion through basement membranes, extravasation, and colonization of distant metastatic sites. Cancer cell chemotaxis also relies on this migratory behavior to arrive at a secondary destination designated for cancer cell colonization.

Zinc finger protein 202 is a transcription factor first associated with breast cancer. It is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the ZNF202 gene.

thumb|270px|Cytopathology of [[Warthin's tumor, with typical cellular features (and a relatively uncommon binucleated cell). Pap stain. The relatively large size of the oncocytes is seen when comparing to the lymphocyte.]] thumb|290px|Micrograph showing [[apocrine-type metaplasia of the breast with typical oncocytes. H&E stain.]] right|thumb|Oncocytes (left of image), as seen in a renal oncocytoma. [[H&E stain.]] An oncocyte is an epithelial cell characterized by an excessive number of mitochondria, resulting in an abundant acidophilic, granular cytoplasm. Oncocytes can be benign or malignant.

medical condition