Anaplastic

Anaplastic is a term for tumour cells that have lost their normal structure and function. Anaplastic tumor cells look very different from the normal cells from which they originated and tend to behave more aggressively.

Key features of anaplastic cells include:

• Loss of differentiation: Normal cells are specialized and have specific functions. Anaplastic cells lose this specialization and no longer perform their usual functions.
• Abnormal appearance: Anaplastic cells often have irregular shapes, sizes, and structures. They are usually much larger than normal cells. They may also have large, irregular nuclei (the cell’s control center) and an abnormal amount of DNA.
• Increased cell division: Anaplastic cells divide more rapidly and uncontrollably, contributing to these tumors’ aggressive growth and spread.

What types of tumors frequently show anaplastic cells?

Anaplasia is most commonly seen in high grade, aggressive tumors. Some types of tumors that frequently show anaplastic cells include:

1. Glioblastoma: A highly aggressive type of brain tumor.
2. Anaplastic astrocytoma: A type of brain tumor that is more aggressive than low-grade astrocytomas.
3. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A highly aggressive type of thyroid gland cancer.
4. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma: A type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an immune system cancer.

Why are anaplastic cells important?

Anaplastic cells are important for several reasons:

1. Indicates aggressiveness: Anaplastic cells often suggest that a tumor is aggressive and may grow and spread quickly.
2. Guides treatment: Knowing that a tumor has anaplastic cells can help doctors decide on the best treatment plan. Aggressive tumors may require more intensive treatments, such as higher doses of chemotherapy or radiation.
3. Affects prognosis: Anaplastic cells can impact a patient’s prognosis, which is the likely outcome or course of the disease. Tumors with a high degree of anaplasia are often associated with a poorer prognosis because they tend to grow and spread more quickly.

Do anaplastic cells mean cancer?

Anaplastic cells are almost exclusively seen in malignant (cancerous) tumors. Finding anaplastic cells in a benign (non-cancerous) tumor is exceedingly rare. The presence of anaplastic cells typically indicates that the tumor is malignant, meaning it has the potential to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.