it is important to note that pancreatic cancer involves the organ of the GI system (the pancreas), which is also known as the endocrine pancreas due in fact to the importance of the pancreas in the production of hormones for the endocrine system (most importantly the beta-cells, delta cells and the alpha cells: which are responsible for the production of insulin, glucagon and somatatostatin, respectively).
pancreatic adenocarcinoma (as it is fully known) occurs when there is a neoplastic growth within the pancreas , or within the organ systems and then spread to the pancreas via hematological metastasis (spread through the blood by way of the lymph nodes).
there are 5 steps in neoplasm spread:
1. normal growth: normal cells within the basal layer; there is still apical differentiation
2. hyperplasia: cells have increased in number -- hyperplasia; abnormal proliferation of cells with loss of size, shape and orientation (dysplasia)
3. carcinoma in situ/ pre-invasive: in situ carcinoma; neoplastic cells have not invaded the basement membrane; high nuclear/ cytoplasmic ratio and clumped chromatin ; neoplastic cells encompass entire thickness; tumor cells are monoclonal
4. Invasive carcinoma: cells have invaded the basement membrane using collagenases and hydrolases (these are enzymes that break through tissues); can metastasize if they reach a blood or lymphatic vessel
5. Metastatic focus: metastasis spreads to distant organs
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The formation of neoplasms and spreads to tissues is called CANCER. when the metastasized tumor spreads to the pancreas, it becomes a pancreatic tumor. As a result of the cancer, the functions of the pancreas (a major/ integral organ of the endocrine system) are affected (hyperfunction or hypofunction, depending on the impingement).
Pancreatic cancer, if uncontained, considering its high vascularity, will result in a multi-systemic spread of the cancer. If the chemotherapy is unsuccessful, the cancer is, by medical law, fatal.
This type of cancer has a high mortality rate.
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Topic: Pancreatic Cancer (Read 1059 times)