1. Cancer Overview Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 6 (Classic) Hallmarks of Cancer?

A
  1. Evasion of Apoptosis
  2. Self-Sufficiency in growth signalling
  3. Insensitivity to anti-growth signalling
  4. Tissue Invasion and Metastasis
  5. Limitless Replicative Potential
  6. Sustained Angiogenesis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the updated Hallmarks?

A
  1. Sustaining Proliferative Signalling
  2. Evading Growth Suppressors
  3. Avoiding Immune Destruction
  4. Enabling Replicative Immunity
  5. Tumour Promoting Inflammation
  6. Activating Invasion and Metastasis
  7. Inducing Angiogensis
  8. Genome Instability
  9. Resisting Cell Death
  10. Deregulating Cellular Energetics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which therapy targets the sustaining of proliferative signalling?

A

EGFR Inhibitors

epidermal growth factor leads to DNA synthesis/cell proliferation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which therapy targets the evasion of growth suppressors

A

Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitors

CK regulates the cell cycle up to and including apoptosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Which therapy targets the avoidence of autoimmune destruction by cancer cells?

A

Immune Activating Anti-CTLA4 mAb

On/Off switch for Cytotoxic T-Cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which therapy targets replicative immortality by cancer cells?

A
Telomerase Inhibitors 
(Telomerase prevents shortening of chromosome with each replication cycle)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which therapy targets tumour promoting inflammation?

A

Anti-inflammatory Drugs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which therapy targets the activation of invasion/metastasis?

A

Inhibitors of HGF/c-Met

HGF stimulation causes MET to initiate invasive growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which therapy targets angiogenesis?

A

Inhibitors of VEGF Signalling

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which therapy targets genomic instability and mutation?

A
PARP Inhibitors
(Poly ADP Ribose Polymerase = Repairs single strand breaks in DNA, breaks more common in cancer, w/o repair, apopotosis will occur).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which therapy targets the resisting of cell death by cancer cells?

A

Proapoptotic BH3 Mimetics

Bind to and inhibit the proapoptotics (prosurvival) (Bcl-2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which therapy targets the deregulation of cell energies?

A

Aerobic Glycolysis Inhibitors

Cancer cell more dependent on aerobic ATP supply

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is Cellular Senescene?

A

A state of permanent cell-cycle arrest brought on by progressive telomere shortening and ultimately the activation of DNA damage responses. This limits the lifespan of mammalian cells and prevents unlimited cell proliferation. Linked to tumour suppression.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is Autophagy?

A

It is a mechanism of chemoresistance which involves the formation of a double walled vesicle called an autophagosome that encapsulates and recycles cellular proteins and organelles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How can autophagy promote cancer cell survival?

A

By a process known as “Cytoprotective Autophagy”. Which protects the cells against the cytotoxic stresses characteristic of tumour micoenvironments. Autophagy is the mechanism by which cells may avoid anoikis and metastasis may occur.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How can autophagy cause cancer cell death?

A

By a process known as “Terminal Autophagy” which initiates cell death either by the excessive cannibalisation of the cell or by inducing apoptosis.

17
Q

What is Anoikis?

A

Anoikis is a form of programmed cell death induced by anchorage dependent cells detaching from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Anoikis is induced when there is a disturbance in normal cell-matrix signalling and other interactions controlling growth and survival.

18
Q

How is Anoikis relevant to the development of cancer

A

Anoikis acts as a barrier to metastasis, preventing the survival of cells at inappropriate sites in the body. Resistance to Anoikis (caused by autophagy) is a form of chemoresistance.

19
Q

What is the effect of hypoxia on tumour cells?

A

It causes an outgrowth in their vasculature and is associated with aggressive tumour behaviour including increased invasion, proliferation and metastasis.

20
Q

What are the properties of hypoxic cancer cells?

A

Hypoxia is a form of chemoresistance involving low levels of o2 in the cells enviroment. It is associated with high resistance to radiation and chemotherapy (agents can’t travel through vaculature to site). Hypoxia can induce cellular senescence and cytoprotective autophagy.

21
Q

What are the indications for the chemotheraputic agent Paclitaxel?

A

1st line in ovarian cancer, used in combination with carboplatin. 2nd line in advanced breast cancer.

22
Q

What are exosomes?

A

Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles found in ECF.
Exocytosed by some cells, endocytosed by others.
Potential for Biomarkers
A way of spread pathologies cell-2-cell including cancer.
Micro RNA that can change transcription in target cells.

23
Q

How might exosomes be used in cancer treatment?

A

Us patient tailored exosomes for the delivery of chemotherapeutics.