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In addition to being classified according to their primary site, all cancers are also named according to their appearance under the microscope. This may or may not aid doctors in determining the origin of the cancer.
- Cancers formed by flat cells that resemble cells normally found on the surface of the skin or the linings of the mouth, throat, or vagina are called squamous cell cancers.
- Cancers that develop from gland cells are called adenocarcinomas. Gland cells are found in many organs of the body, including some that are not usually thought of as glands. For example, almost all cancers from the intestinal tract are adenocarcinomas. About 40% of lung cancers are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas can also develop in many other organs.
- Lymphoma develops from cells of the immune system found in lymph nodes and several other organs.
- Melanomas develop from cells that produce the skin's tan or brown color.
- Sarcomas develop from connective tissue cells that are usually present in tendons, ligaments, muscle, fat, and related tissues.
- Germ cell tumors, mostly seen in men, begin in testes (testicles) or parts of the body where the testes developed in the fetus.
This list is not intended to include all types of cancers but merely to name the most common ones.
When the cancer cells closely resemble normal cells of the organ where they start, the cancer is called well differentiated. When they have very little similarity to normal cells, the cancers are called poorly differentiated. In general, cancers of unknown primary tend to be poorly differentiated.
Identifying the primary cancer site of a metastatic cancer is important as it helps the physician in selecting the most appropriate treatment. Metastatic cancers may be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, cryosurgery, or a combination of these modalities.
Theros CancerTYPE ID® guides the physician with identification and classification of the primary cancer site. This test is able to classify 39 different tumor types and can be used on small biopsy specimens. When used in the early diagnostic work-up of a needle biopsy sample, CancerTYPE ID can lead to a quicker and more complete diagnosis. |
- Detailed medical history
- Physical examination
- A basic laboratory work-up
- Tumor histology and extensive immunohistochemistry
- Various imaging studies (CT, MRI, PET, others)
- Minimum invasive scopic procedures
CancerTYPE ID can be added to the diagnostic work-up to guide the selection of targeted imaging and immunohistochemistry procedures. By incorporating CancerTYPE ID into the diagnostic process, clinicians can reduce identification time, confirm a classification more quickly, avoid expensive and redundant imaging procedures, and select the therapy established for the patient’s primary cancer.
Link to Glossary
For more comprehensive information about metastatic cancer, patients should talk with their doctor and healthcare team. Additional information can also be found at the following sites:
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