Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumour that originates from glandular epithelial cells. These cells produce substances such as mucus, digestive juices or hormones. Because glandular tissue is widely distributed, adenocarcinomas can form in many organs, including the stomach, lungs, intestines (especially colon and rectum), pancreas, prostate, breast, ovaries, uterus, and others. Adenocarcinomas constitute a major subtype of gastrointestinal, lung, breast and genitourinary cancers. Personalised treatment based on histological and genetic characteristics enables more effective therapy.

Adenocarcinoma – why is it dangerous?

Like all cancers, adenocarcinomas are dangerous because they can invade adjacent tissues, disrupt organ function and metastasise to distant sites. Without timely treatment, tumours continue to grow, causing progressive damage and potentially life‑threatening complications. Early detection and intervention are critical for improving outcomes.

Causes of adenocarcinoma

Currently, the exact reasons why adenocarcinoma develops are unknown. However, according to numerous observations, there are factors that can provoke the appearance of a tumor of this type. These include:

• contact with oncogenic substances;
• exposure to ionizing radiation;
• immune disorders;
• violation of the integrity of the glandular layer of the epithelium;
• alcohol abuse and smoking;
• hormonal changes;
• some viral infections, for example, hepatitis, human papillomavirus;
• hereditary predisposition.

What organs does adenocarcinoma affect?

Adenocarcinoma can develop anywhere where there is glandular epithelium. Malignant tumors of this type are found in the following organs:

• salivary glands;
• esophagus;
• stomach;
• intestines;
• liver;
• pancreas;
• prostate gland;
• ovary;
• mammary gland;
• endometrium of the uterus;
• pituitary gland;
• thyroid gland;
• kidneys;
• lungs;
• sweat glands.

Symptoms and signs of adenocarcinoma

At the initial stage of its development, this pathology, like many other cancers, does not manifest itself in any way. As adenocarcinoma grows, characteristic symptoms appear. What patients’ complaints will be depends largely on the location of the tumor. Common symptoms include:

• general deterioration in health;
• unexplained weakness, fatigue;
• decreased appetite, weight loss;
• pain in the area where the tumor is located;
• anemia.

Often there is an enlargement of the lymph nodes located near the location of the tumor.

Specific symptoms characteristic of adenocarcinoma of a particular organ also occur. For example, with adenocarcinoma of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain occur. Lung adenocarcinoma may cause coughing, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, and pain in the area where the lungs are located. Colorectal adenocarcinoma is characterized by diarrhea, mucous and purulent discharge from the anus, and pain during defecation. With endometrioid adenocarcinoma, uterine bleeding, aching pain in the abdomen, and an increase in the size of the abdomen may occur.

If the disease progresses, the symptoms increase, complications arise, and life-threatening disorders appear. Therefore, the sooner the problem is identified and diagnosed, the greater the chance of defeating the disease.

Types of adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinomas are divided into types according to different criteria: shape, growth rate, structural features, location. So, depending on the type of fluid that the tumor secretes, there are:

• serous adenocarcinoma;
• purulent adenocarcinoma;
• mucinous adenocarcinoma.

According to histological characteristics, neoplasms of this type are divided into:

• highly differentiated;
• moderately differentiated;
• low differentiated.

Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma

In well‑differentiated tumours, cancer cells closely resemble normal epithelial cells. These cancers grow slowly, rarely metastasise and often have a good prognosis when detected early. Surgical removal is often curative.

Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma

This form of the disease is considered transitional between highly differentiated and poorly differentiated. The moderately differentiated form has a more abnormal cell structure from a histological point of view than the highly differentiated variety. Tumors of this type can contain both cells similar to normal and cells that are noticeably different. This type of tumor is more aggressive than the highly differentiated form, develops faster and is less treatable.

Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma

The most dangerous type of adenocarcinoma, which is characterized by tumor cells that differ significantly from normal glandular epithelial cells. This type of tumor is characterized by rapid growth and the ability to quickly metastasize, which can occur throughout the body. It is quite difficult to treat this type of pathology.

Stages of adenocarcinoma

Oncologists distinguish the following stages of the disease:

• Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ. Cancer cells have already appeared, but they are localized within the epithelial tissue.
• Stage 1. The neoplasm is up to 2 centimeters in size, localized in the affected organ and does not extend beyond it.
• Stage 2. The malignant tumor reaches a size of up to 4-5 cm. Adjacent lymph nodes may be affected and single metastases may occur.
• Stage 3. The neoplasm grows beyond the organ in which it originated, neighboring organs and tissues are involved in the pathological process, several lymph nodes are affected, and metastasis is observed.
• Stage 4. Multiple metastases appear, which can involve different organs and lymph nodes.

How long do people live with adenocarcinoma?

Life expectancy after diagnosis of adenocarcinoma depends on many parameters:

stage of the disease;

• tumor type;
• features of the location of the neoplasm;
• the patient’s general health;
• diagnostic accuracy;
• the correctness of the selected treatment.

The sooner a tumor is detected and treatment is started, the greater the chance of completely getting rid of the tumor and living a long, fulfilling life. But even in advanced cases today there is an opportunity to resist the disease. The use of new effective treatment methods improves prospects even for severe variants of the disease.

Adenocarcinoma: prognosis

Prognosis for adenocarcinoma varies depending on the stage of the pathology:

• in the first stages, 5-year survival is observed in approximately 90% of patients;
• at the 2nd-3rd stage, 50-80% of patients pass the five-year mark;
• at stage 4 – survival rate for five years is 10-25%.

However, these are general indicators. Practice shows that the prognosis can be significantly improved if a personalized approach to treatment is applied. The MedTour platform will help you find specialists who can choose the most effective treatment for your case.

Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma

Oncologists select examination methods taking into account the organ in which the tumor has arisen. Most often, diagnostics include:

• Laboratory diagnostics. Doctors prescribe tests that show disturbances in the functioning of certain organs. Tests for tumor markers may also be prescribed if specific types of cancer are suspected.
• Ultrasound diagnostics. Using ultrasound, it is possible to detect a tumor, determine its location and approximate size.
• Endoscopic diagnostics. Allows the doctor to see the condition of some organs from the inside. For example, to diagnose intestinal adenocarcinoma, colonoscopy is prescribed, and if uterine cancer is suspected, hysteroscopy is prescribed.
• X-ray methods. This can be either an X-ray or more modern and accurate types of computed tomography. With their help, it is possible to determine the exact size of the tumor.
• PET-CT. This is a type of computed tomography that can detect tumors as small as one millimeter.
• MRI. It determines not only the size of the tumor, but also some features of its structure, and also identifies metastases.
• Biopsy and histology of the sample. Taking a tumor sample and examining it in a laboratory allows most accurately determining the type of tumor, which is important for selecting treatment.

New methods for diagnosing cancer: genetic testing

Analyzes for identifying mutations in tumor material deserve special attention. Thanks to genetic testing of the material, it is possible to determine both hereditary and somatic mutations. This makes it possible to personalize therapy and choose more effective treatment tactics.

Such studies today can be done in specialized laboratories, which conduct a wide range of studies for various types of malignant diseases. The use of molecular profiling for various genes associated with cancer allows accurately determining the mutation, and then selecting a targeted drug that will most effectively affect a specific type of cancer cell. You can find out where to undergo such studies from the MedTour coordinating doctor.

How to treat adenocarcinoma

To treat adenocarcinoma, oncologists use various methods that can be used in combination or independently. The standard and most commonly used methods of cancer therapy include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Operation

Surgery is often the first-line treatment for localised adenocarcinomas. Procedures vary by organ: colectomy for colorectal cancer, mastectomy or lumpectomy for breast cancer, pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer, prostatectomy for prostate adenocarcinoma, among others. Surgeons aim to remove the tumour along with surrounding tissue and lymph nodes to minimise recurrence. Minimally invasive and robotic techniques can reduce recovery time.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy employs systemic agents to destroy rapidly dividing cells. Common regimens differ by cancer type – for example, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan for colorectal cancer; platinum compounds for lung adenocarcinoma; gemcitabine and nab‑paclitaxel for pancreatic adenocarcinoma; and taxane‑based regimens for breast cancer. Chemotherapy may be used before surgery to shrink tumours, after surgery to eliminate residual disease, or alone in advanced cases.

Radiation therapy

Radiotherapy can be prescribed in combination with other methods of influencing the disease. Before surgically removing a tumor, doctors may prescribe radiation therapy to shrink the tumor. After surgery – to eliminate single malignant cells that might remain.

In addition to standard radiation therapy, the CyberKnife system is also used today. It has a more powerful and effective effect on tumor cells. CyberKnife can be used for non-surgical treatment of cancer in hard-to-reach places where it is difficult to carry out standard surgical interventions.

There are other powerful new methods that allow oncologists to personalize treatment, which gives better results in the fight against cancer.

New effective methods for treating adenocarcinoma

Emerging therapies include photodynamic therapy, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, high‑intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and transarterial chemoembolisation. Personalised precision medicine—combining genomic profiling with targeted and immunotherapies—is transforming adenocarcinoma treatment. Participation in clinical trials offers access to cutting‑edge therapies.

Targeted therapy

The drugs used in standard chemotherapy affect cells throughout the body, not just cancer cells. As a result, the functioning of organs and systems is disrupted, and with large doses, severe side effects can occur. Targeted therapy is a more effective and gentle type of chemotherapy. In this case, doctors select substances that have a targeted effect on cancer cells, destroying them. In this case, the cells of healthy tissues are practically not affected.

Today, more and more targeted drugs are being invented that act on specific types of malignant tumors. In order to select the right targeted drug, it is necessary to do special genetic tests and identify certain mutations in genes.

We will help you find a medical facility where you can do high-quality genetic testing and choose the most effective treatment tactics with effective targeted drugs.

Immunotherapy: the use of cancer vaccines

Immunotherapy in oncology is aimed at activating one’s own immunity to fight cancer. One of the areas of immunotherapy is the use of cancer vaccines. This is another facet of a personalized approach. Today, vaccines are produced for this purpose, which are created individually based on the cells of a specific tumor. Such cancer vaccines are called autovaccines. They can be used in conjunction with other therapies, are well tolerated and significantly improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

Also, the autovaccine can be used after completion of treatment to prevent relapse and metastases of adenocarcinoma. But to obtain the drug, a sample of tumor tissue is required.

If you don’t have a sample, you can use a xenovaccine, which is made using animal-derived fetal proteins. It also demonstrates high efficiency and reduces the likelihood of relapse.

For more information about cancer vaccines, please contact us.

The best clinics for the treatment of adenocarcinoma

On the MedTour platform you can find the best clinics for the treatment of adenocarcinoma of various organs. We cooperate with cancer centers from around the world, and we know where the leading specialists in the treatment of a particular disease work. On our website you can find information about leading oncology clinics, read about their treatment methods, treatment features, and see the cost of the most popular procedures. We work with such well-known medical centers as:

• National Cancer Institute, (Ukraine);
• Anadolu Medical Center (Turkey);
• Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch (Germany);
• Hospital Quiron Barcelona (Spain);
• Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) (Republic of Korea).

You can independently view the entire list of clinics that treat cancer on our website. For more detailed information about clinics, treatment methods and prices for their services, contact us.

The best doctors for the treatment of adenocarcinoma

MedTour will help you find specialists who are considered the best in the field of treatment of various malignant diseases. We will find you a doctor who specializes in your disease, uses the latest treatment methods and has a good reputation.

The MedTour coordinator will advise you on doctors and help you make the best choice. Contact us to learn more about all treatment options and options.