Acinar adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that affects epithelial tissues, forming glands or clusters of cells. It is commonly seen in lung and prostate cancer, with symptoms often not appearing until the advanced stages. Smoking and age are risk factors.
Acinar adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer in which cubic or column-shaped epithelial cells become malignant and form glands. These cells would then come together and create a “berry,” which looks like a cluster of raspberries, or tubules, resulting in a neoplasm or abnormal enlargement of tissue. Acinar adenocarcinoma has been commonly seen as a type of lung cancer and also accounts for the majority of malignant prostate glands.
The medical term “acinar adenocarcinoma” comes from both Latin and Greek: the word “acinar” comes from a Latin word acinus meaning “berry”, while “adenocarcinoma” is a combination of the words adeno and carcinoma, both meaning “gland” respectively ” and “cancer”. In general, tumors that are labeled adenocarcinomas are those involving epithelial tissues, in which malignant cells are able to excrete a substance, a similar function of glands. They are also often life-threatening as they show no obvious symptoms until the advanced stages.
In the case of the lungs, the reason that symptoms are not felt initially is because the malignant cells often develop in the pleura, the thin layer that covers and protects the lungs, and not in the lungs themselves. Only when the tumor has become too large and the pleura has pushed towards the lungs can the patient experience some discomfort and difficulty breathing. Malignant cells often appear on plain chest x-rays as dark areas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acinar adenocarcinoma of the lungs is the most common type of lung cancer, causing up to 35% of all lung cancer cases. Chronic smokers are highly at risk of developing acinar adenocarcinoma of the lungs, although non-smokers who inhale secondhand smoke are also vulnerable.
Similarly, acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the most common form of prostate cancer, probably accounting for up to 90% of all cases. Clumped malignant cells often cause prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate. This causes obstruction of the urethra and, consequently, difficulty and pain in urinating, a usual symptom of advanced prostate cancer. However, adenocarcinoma development progresses slowly, so patients may not experience any symptoms until the prostate becomes too inflamed and the cancer has spread to other areas. Men aged 50 and older are more susceptible to acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate, although lifestyle, genes, and race are also important risk factors.
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