Introduction to Epithelial Carcinoma

Posted by Catalina Garcia on April 26th, 2024

Most human cancers arise from epithelial cells and tissues. Throughout the body, epithelial cells form a well-ordered sheet that is anchored to the basement membrane. They act as a barrier between the inside and outside of the body or comprise the glandular tissue of organs, such as the breast and prostate gland. Epithelial tissue has several distinct microscopic features including polarized morphology, specialized cell-cell contact, and attachment to the underlying basement membrane. All of these features are necessary for proper control of cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, and secretion. If this intact, well-ordered structure is disrupted, it can lead to the occurrence of epithelial tumors. There are many types of epithelial cancers according to the location of the tumors, among which breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer are more common.

Learn more: Introduction to Epithelial Carcinoma