1. Cancer and Sarcoma Vocabulary Lesson
Gina D’Amato, MD
Director of Clinical Research
Georgia Cancer Specialists affiliated with Northside Hospital Cancer Institute

2. Definition of Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body
Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells
Cancer grows out of normal cells in the body
Normal cells multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body doesn't need them
Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too quickly
It can also occur when cells forget how to die
There are many different kinds of cancers
Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue

3. Oncology The study of cancer
Oncologist – a physician who treats cancer patients
Medical oncologist
Hematologist/oncologist (Hem/Onc)
Pediatric oncologist
Surgical oncologist
Radiation oncologist
Gynecologist/oncologist (Gyn/Onc)
Orthopedic oncologist

4. Healthy Cells
Cells represent the smallest functional unit of our existence. They contain cytoplasm and a nucleus (i.e., metabolism, reproduction, day-to-day functions)
Cells have a specialized function depending on their location in the body
Cells grow, replicate, and repair body organs
The genetic material (DNA/RNA) and your immune system regulate this process

5. Biology 101
DNA
Mitosis
Chromosomes

7. This neoplasmic mass often forms a clumping of cells known as a tumor

9. Cancer cells have the ability to spread to another location in the body either locally or distally through the lymph system or the blood stream

10. Cancer Terms: Tumor Groups
Solid tumors
Hematologic malignancy
By system

11. Cancer Types Hematological malignancies Solid tumors Lymphomas
Leukemias
Multiple myeloma
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs)
Solid tumors
Carcinomas
Sarcomas
Melanoma
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors

12. Cancer Nomenclature
Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start

13. Cancer Types: Definitions
Carcinoma – cancer of skin or tissues that line or cover internal organs (epithelial cells)
Sarcoma – cancer of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue
Melanoma – cancer of the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin, i.e., skin pigment)
CNS cancers – cancers of the tissues of the brain and spinal cord
Leukemia – cancer of the immature white blood cells of the bone marrow
Lymphoma – cancer of mature white blood cells that originate in the lymph nodes
Multiple myeloma – cancer of the plasma cells (antibody producing) in the bone marrow
MPN – myeloproliferative neoplasm: group of diseases where bone marrow cells make excess cells and can eventually develop into leukemia
MDS – myelodysplastic syndromes: group of diseases where the bone marrow do not produce enough cells and can eventually develop into leukemia

14. US Cancer Incidence Rates 2018
Cancerc
US Incidence Rate
Total
Men
Women
All Sites
1,735,350
856,370
878,980
Breast Cancer
268,670
2550
266,120
Lung Cancer
234,030
121,680
112,350
Blood Cancer
174,250
98,000
76,250
Prostate Cancer
164,690
Colon Cancer
97,220
49,690
47,530
Melanoma
91,270
55,150
36,120
Lymphoma
83,180
46,570
36,610
Bladder Cancer
81,190
62,380
18,810
Kidney Cancer
65,340
42,680
22,660
Leukemia
60,300
35,030
25,270
Pancreas
55,440
29,200
26,240
Thyroid Cancer
53,990
13,090
40,900
Rectal cancer
42,220
25,920
17,110
Cancer
US Incidence Rate
Total
Men
Women
Head and Neck Cancer
51,540
37,160
14,380
Liver Cancer
42,220
30,610
11,610
Multiple Myeloma
30,770
16,400
14,370
Stomach Cancer
26,240
16,520
9,720
Ovarian Cancer
22,240
Esophageal Cancer
17,290
13,480
3,810
Neuroendocrine Tumor
~15,000
Cervical Cancer
13,240
Sarcoma – Soft Tissues
13,040
7,370
5,670
Testicular Cancer
9310
9,310
Sarcoma – Bone and Cartilage
3,450
1,940
1,510

15. Diagnostic Procedures
Biopsy
Remove tissue (sample) from an area that may be cancer
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy
Can be ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT)-guided
Core needle biopsy
Excisional or incisional biopsy
Endoscopy
Pharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, broncoscopy
Endoscopic ultrasound
Laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, mediastinoscopy
Open surgical exploration (laparotomy or thoracotomy)

16. Pathology

17. Grade and Stage Grade refers to the pathology
Stage refers to where the cancer is in your body and determines prognosis

18. Grading
Low Grade
Normal
High Grade

19. Cancer Treatment Terms
Cure
Remission
Response
Complete response
Partial response
Minor/minimal response
Progression
NED (no evidence of disease)

20. Cancer Treatment Localized therapy Focuses on one area Surgery
Radiation
“directed therapy”
Radio Frequency Ablation
SIRS Spheres
Chemoembolization
Systemic therapy- Medications

21. Systemic Therapy
Chemotherapy-kills cells that are growing and dividing
doxorubicin (Adriamycin), Ifosfamide (Ifex), gemcitabine (Gemzar), docetaxel (Taxotere), trabectidin (Yondelis), eribulin (Halaven), cisplatin (Platinol), etoposide (VP-16)
“Targeted” therapy- tries to stop the signal that tells the cell to grow and divide and so if they don’t get the signal to grow and divide then they die
Immunotherapy – uses your immune system to fight the cancer. Current effective treatments tries to block the signal that comes from the cancer cell to shut down the immune system
2018

22. Cancer Treatment Terms
Cure
Remission
Response
Complete response
Partial response
Minor/minimal response
Progression
NED (no evidence of disease)

23. What is Sarcoma? Cancer that starts out from connective tissue cells
Cells that make up bone, muscle, fat, cells that surround organs, cells that surround blood vessels, cells that surround nerves
Unlike other cancers (breast, prostate, colon) sarcomas can children, young adults and older adults
Divided into 2 categories:
Bone- children>adults
Soft tissue- adults>children
Over 200 different subtypes
Named after the what we believe is the original cell

24. List of Soft Tissue sarcoma subtypes

25. Bone Sarcomas
Osteosarcoma
Chondrosarcoma
Ewing’s Sarcoma
2018

26. Cancer Terms
Aggressive
Hereditary
Genetic
Metastatic

27. Mass
Lesion
Nodule

28. How do we know if sarcoma is in your body?
Blood test? No
Imaging
Xrays
CT scan
MRI
PETscan

29. What does Hope mean?
Sarcoma Alliance!!!!
2018