Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics 2024, Vol.12, No.1, 27-36 http://www.medscipublisher.com/index.php/cge 31 exercise, and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, can reduce the risk of developing cancers. Pathology-based classification aids doctors in gaining a more accurate understanding of the morphological and characteristic features of cancer cells, allowing for the determination of the optimal treatment plan. For patients, it also provides a better understanding of their condition and treatment plan. Therefore, it is recommended that patients closely collaborate with their doctors during the treatment process and undergo regular check-ups to promptly detect and treat any abnormalities. Simultaneously, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, can reduce the risk of cancer development. 2 Development Process of Female Cancers 2.1 Formation and progression of precancerous lesions Precancerous lesions usually manifest as slowly progressing diseases, representing the early stages of cancer development. The formation and progression of precancerous lesions typically take years, contingent upon factors like a patient's genotype, lifestyle, and environmental elements. For breast cancer, precancerous lesions often encompass proliferative changes and in situ carcinoma. Proliferative changes involve abnormal cell proliferation in breast tissue, including proliferative breast disease and complex cystic lesions. In situ carcinoma represents malignant cell transformation in breast tissue, encompassing ductal carcinoma in situ and lobular carcinoma in situ, among other types. Cervical cancer's precancerous lesions usually comprise cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical intraepithelial precancerous lesions. CIN refers to abnormal cervical epithelial cell proliferation, including inflammation, atypical hyperplasia, and CIN. Cervical intraepithelial precancerous lesions represent malignant transformation of cervical epithelial cells, including CIN3 and in situ carcinoma types. Ovarian cancer's precancerous changes typically involve surface epithelial tumors and ovarian cystic changes. Surface epithelial tumors signify abnormal cell proliferation of ovarian surface epithelial cells, including surface epithelial cysts, surface epithelial tumors, and low malignant potential surface epithelial tumors. Ovarian cystic changes represent malignant transformation of cystic ovarian cells, including cystic precancerous lesions and cystic carcinoma. Endometrial cancer's precancerous changes usually include endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial precancerous lesions. Endometrial hyperplasia denotes abnormal cell proliferation in the endometrium, including endometrial thickening, cysts, and polyps. Endometrial precancerous lesions represent malignant transformation of endometrial cells, including endometrial adenocarcinoma precancerous lesions and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia precancerous lesions. The precancerous lesions of vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer usually include VIN and VAIN. VIN and VAIN are lesions of abnormal proliferation of vaginal or vulvar epithelial cells, which are usually associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (Jiang, 2009). 2.2 Cancer staging and progression Cancer staging assesses disease severity and prognosis based on factors like tumor size, depth, extent of invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Currently, institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have established unified cancer staging standards, including TNM staging and staging systems. TNM staging evaluates cancer severity and prognosis based on tumor size (T), lymph node metastasis (N), and distant metastasis (M). Staging systems determine disease severity and prognosis based on clinical manifestations and pathological characteristics. Common staging systems include FIGO staging (for gynecological tumors), Duke staging (for colorectal cancer), and BCLC staging (for liver cancer), among others. Cancer progression is usually a multistage process. Following precancerous lesions, cancer cells progressively invade surrounding tissues and organs, eventually leading to metastatic lesions. During cancer progression, cancer cells gradually lose normal cell characteristics, becoming increasingly heterogeneous and malignant while acquiring greater invasive and metastatic abilities.
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