Tumor

Julen Lux Baranano

edited by

Joshua Klemt,

1. Definition

A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that results from uncontrolled cell growth and can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

2. Classification

Tumors are classified based on their origin and behavior:

Benign tumors: Non-cancerous, slow-growing masses that do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body, but may cause harm by pressing on surrounding structures.
Malignant tumors are cancerous growths that exhibit rapid growth, infiltrate nearby tissues, and have the potential to metastasize to distant organs.

3. Pathophysiology

Tumors result from genetic mutations that disrupt the normal regulation of cell growth. Major causes include:

Genetic predisposition: Inherited mutations (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2) increase susceptibility to cancer.
Environmental factors: Exposure to carcinogens such as tobacco, UV radiation, or infections (e.g., HPV) can damage DNA.
Faulty DNA repair mechanisms: Defects in DNA repair lead to accumulated mutations that promote tumor growth.
Imbalance of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes: Overactive oncogenes and inactivated tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53) lead to uncontrolled cell division.

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Specialty

Cell Biology, Oncology

Keywords

Last edit:

2024-12-26 19:23:12

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