Question

Explain the significance of cell differentiation in the development and prognosis of a tumor.

Please help!!

Answer 1

Cell differentiation is the process by which young and immature cell evolves into a specialised cell reaching its mature form and function. In cancer, this describes how much or how little tumour tissue looks like a normal tissue it came from.

Differentiation is used in tumour grading systems which are different for each type of cancer. Cell differentiation helps in histopathological classification of solid malignancies.

Differentiation stage is strongly associated with the behaviour of the tumour and an immature tumour is more aggressive than more differentiated one.

The tumour cells become differentiated and the body’s regulatory system is no longer able to control the changes taking place and so eventually cancerous tissues begin to spread.

Cancer cell differentiation grade refers to the graded classification of tumours according to how differentiated a tumour is. A tumour closely resembles the structure of tissue it started in is described as well differentiated . The closer the structure of cancer cell is to that of normal cell structure, the better it is differentiated. A tumour which resembles the original tissue to a lesser extend is known as anaplastic or poorly differentiated.

When the tumour cells are poorly differentiated, it is difficult to identify the tissue from where they started in and targeting treatment.

Cell differentiation helps in grading the tumour. There are four grades.

Grade 1- well differentiated tumour

This mostly resembles the normal tissue and has a good prognosis.

Grade 2 - Moderately differentiated

Intermediate forms of tumour with both good and poor prognosis.

Grade 3 - Badly differentiated tumour

Grade 4- Undifferentiated

Both Grade 3 and 4 tumours spread easier than other tumour and they have very poor prognosis.

Hence cell differentiation plays an important role in development and prognosis of tumour.