7.2 Cancer is not a 1-Step Proces Flashcards
How many people develop cancer?
1 in 3
What exponentially increases the incidence of most cancers?
age
What is tumorigenesis?
the development of a malignant tumor
What is a polyp?
small cluster of cells that are defective for the APC gene
What is a polyp also known as?
adenoma
What is the ACP gene?
adenomatous polyposis coli
Is a polyp benign?
yes
What does the APC gene encode for?
differentiation of normal intestinal cells
What is the first stage of colon cancer?
formation of a polyp
What is the second stage of colon cancer?
genetic mutation occurs within the adenoma
What is the typical mutation that occurs in the adenoma?
Kras gene
What is the function of the Kras gene?
regulated cell growth
What is the third stage of colon cancer?
development of a carcinoma
What is a carcinoma?
malignant tumor
How does the adenoma become a carcinoma?
mutation of genes that control cell death, growth signaling, and cell cycle regulation
What do many scientists believe is the biggest driver of the cancer phenotype?
complete inability to repair DNA damage
What is the mutator phenotype?
complete genetic instability of cancer cells
What is an example of an inherited cancer that is mutated for DNA repair genes?
HNPCC = hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
What is the incidence of HNPCC?
1 in 200 to 1 in 1000
Where else does HNPCC affect?
colon
kidneys
ovaries
uterus
