Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma is made up of cells that, for the most part, resemble normal, healthy cells. These cells have some component malformations and can divide at a higher rate, but are not considered as aggressive as cells that are poorly differentiated. The prognosis for moderately differentiated cell cancers depends on a number of factors, such as the organ or system affected by the cancer, the size of the tumor, and the extent of the cancer, but is generally better than the prognosis given when patients have cancer cells. poorly differentiated.
To determine if the cancer cells qualify as a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, a patient will need a biopsy of their tumor. Once a small section of the tumor is removed, a specialist will examine the sample under a microscope. If the cells are moderately differentiated, they will appear relatively normal compared to other cells in the same organ. Some minor abnormalities will be present in this type of cell, including malformations in the size and shape of the nucleus or problems that make the cell appear immature, such as the lack of certain organelles.
In most cases, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma cells will divide more rapidly than healthy cells. This means that a tumor will grow faster than healthy cells in surrounding tissue, eventually allowing cancer cells to reach normal tissue. The cells also won't die like normal cells do and will continue to divide even when there aren't enough resources to support these extra cells. This can allow cancer cells to take over surrounding tissue at an increasingly faster rate.
Patients with moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma can often expect a generally optimistic prognosis, although the outcome of the cancer depends on many factors other than the condition of the cancer cells. Treatment for adenocarcinoma may include radiation, chemotherapy, surgical removal of the tumor, and a variety of secondary medical procedures or medications. Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma cells respond to all types of treatment, although cancer cells may be resistant to some forms of treatment in some patients or in some organs. In determining the best way to treat this type of cancer, a medical team will examine a number of elements, tailoring treatment to each specific patient.