Anaplasia is a term for tumour cells that have lost their normal structure and function. Anaplastic tumour cells look very different from the normal cells from which they originated.
Key features of anaplasia include:
- Loss of differentiation: Normal cells are specialized and have specific functions. In anaplasia, cells lose this specialization and no longer perform their usual functions.
- Abnormal appearance: Anaplastic cells often have irregular shapes, sizes, and structures. They are often much larger than normal cells. They may also have large, irregular nuclei (the control centre of the cell) and an abnormal amount of DNA.
- Increased cell division: Anaplastic cells tend to divide more rapidly and uncontrollably than normal cells.
What types of tumours frequently show anaplasia?
Anaplasia is most commonly seen in high grade, aggressive tumours. Some types of tumours that frequently show anaplasia include:
- Glioblastoma: A highly aggressive type of brain tumour.
- Anaplastic astrocytoma: A type of brain tumour that is more aggressive than low-grade astrocytomas.
- Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A highly aggressive type of thyroid gland cancer.
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma: A type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer of immune system cancer.
Why is anaplasia important?
Anaplasia is important for several reasons:
- Indicates aggressiveness: The presence of anaplasia often indicates that a tumour is aggressive and may grow and spread quickly.
- Guides treatment: Knowing that a tumour has anaplastic features can help doctors decide on the best treatment plan. Aggressive tumours may require more intensive treatments, such as higher doses of chemotherapy or radiation.
- Affects prognosis: Anaplasia can impact a patient’s prognosis, which is the likely outcome or course of the disease. Tumours with a high degree of anaplasia are often associated with a poorer prognosis because they tend to grow and spread more quickly.
Does anaplasia mean cancer?
Anaplasia is almost exclusively seen in malignant (cancerous) tumours. It is exceedingly rare to find anaplastic cells in a benign (non-cancerous) tumour. For this reason, the presence of anaplasia typically indicates that the tumour is malignant, meaning it has the potential to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
Learn more pathology: Atlas of Pathology
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