CABCO Flashcards
Are alterations in cell cycle regulation that increase cell proliferation sufficient for carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis?
No, other mutations are needed for premalignant cells to acquire traits and behaviors that lead to invasiveness and metastasis
What are the two most desirable therapeutic outcomes when treating cancerous cells?
Apoptosis or permanent cell cycle arrest
It takes how many hours for most human cells to complete the cell cycle?
24 hours
What is the shortest phase in the cell cycle? The longest?
Shortest: mitosis (~1 hour)
Longest: S phase (1/3 to 2/3 cell cycle)
What is the difference between an inactive CDK and an active CDK?
Inactive has no cyclin + a T-loop blocking the active site containing ATP
Active has cyclin bound + phosphorylated T-loop does not block the active site
In what phase of the cell cycle are CDKs not active?
G0
What cyclin-CDK complexes are present in mid G1?
Cyclin D-Cdk 4
Cyclin D-Cdk 6
What cyclin-CDK complexes are present in late G1?
Cyclin E-Cdk 2
What cyclin-CDK complexes are present in S phase?
Cyclin A-Cdk 2
What cyclin-CDK complexes are present in M phase/mitosis?
Cyclin A-Cdk 1
Cyclin B-Cdk 1
What kinase phosphorylates mitotic CDK-cyclin complexes with an inhibitory phosphate?
Wee1
What kinase phosphorylates mitotic CDK-cyclin complexes with an activating phosphate?
CDK Activating Kinase (CAK)
What phosphatase removes inhibitory phosphate from the mitotic CDK-cyclin complex?
Cdc25
What does an activated mitotic CDK-cyclin complex phosphorylate?
Histones, mitotic spindle proteins, lamins
What causes degradation of mitotic cyclins and cohesion proteins holding metaphase chromosomes together?
Anaphase Promotion Complex (APC)
What transcription factor does Rb protein regulate?
E2F
What checkpoint is Rb present in?
G1/S phase
Describe Rb/E2F interaction
Active Rb is bound to E2F, inactivating it
An active G1-Cdk can phosphorylate Rb, inactivating it and releasing E2F. E2F is now free to increase S-phase gene transcription and produce the needed Cyclins (A and E) at this stage
What is the function of the Cip/Kip family of proteins? Name them.
Bind and inactivate dimeric complexes of cyclin D-Cdk4/6, cyclin A-Cdk2 or Cyclin E-Cdk2
p21, p27, and p 57
What is the function of the INK4 family? Name them.
Bind and inactivate Cdk4 and Cdk6 kinases
p15, p16, p18, and p19
What two CDK inhibitors regulate the G1/S transition?
p16 and p27
Ras increases the transcription of what proto-oncogene?
Myc
What does Myc increase the expression of?
Entry into S phase via increased Cyclin D, decreased p27, and increased E2F synthesis & activity
What does p53 do (in general terms)?
Arrest the cell cycle and cause apoptosis
Where are most oncogenic point mutations in p53?
The DNA binding domain
Is p53 active when phosphorylated or dephosphorylated?
Phosphorylated
Inhibits Mdm2 from binding and tagging p53 for degradation
What does it mean to describe p53 mutations as “dominant negative”?
The mutant allele overrides the normal allele
p53 is normally a tetramer and it cannot bind to DNA properly if half of the tetramer is damaged/unable to bind
How does p53 activate the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis?
Via BCL2 family of proteins & cytochrome C release from the mitochondria
What types of cells do tumors contain?
Cancerous AND normal cells (they need the nutrients that normal cells provide)
What type of cancer cell is relatively rare and has a high replicative potential that can effectively “seed” new tumors?
Cancer stem cell
How many viruses are associated with human cancers?
7
What percentage of human cancers are due to viruses?
20%
What is the most common STD in the US?
HPV
How many HPV strains are classified as high-risk?
12
What are the two HPV strains that cause the majority of cervical cancers?
HPV16 and HPV18
What type of tissues does HPV normally infect?
Skin or mucosa (genital tract, oral, nasal)
What two low-risk strains of HPV cause 90% of all genital warts
HPV6 and HPV11
How many genes does a papilloma virus typically have?
8-10
What does HPV transmission require?
A microabrasion
What does HPV’s E7 protein do?
Activates cell cycle progression by binding to Rb
Rb is normally bound to E2F to inhibit cell-cycle progression. E7 binds Rb very tightly, allowing uncontrolled actions of E2F
What does HPV’s E6 protein do?
E6 blocks apoptosis by inducing p53 degradation
E6 complexes with cellular E6AP and this complex can bind to p53 and cause its degradation in the proteosome
The combination of HPV’s E6 and E7 proteins are oncogenic because…?
Their actions result in uncontrolled proliferation AND loss of the ability of the cell to kill itself
Do most people with HPV get cancer?
No, most people clear the virus over time. A small percentage get cancer.
What is the key step in the transition from benign cervical lesion to invasive cervical cancer?
Circular HPV DNA becomes linear and inserts into the host’s genome
What protein is lost in the transition from circular HPV DNA to linear? This protein normally keeps E6 and E7 in check
E2
What are koilocytes?
Cells in the cervical epithelium full of 1000s of HPV viruses
How do you treat persistent HPV infections not associated with abnormal cell changes?
You don’t
What are the three FDA-approved HPV vaccines?
Ceravix, Gardasil, Gardasil 9
What cells of the epithelium does HPV first infect?
Basal cells
What component of the HPV capsid do most of the vaccines target?
L1 protein
What enzyme has increased activity in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase
Can capacitated patients refuse life-sustaining treatment?
Yes
Can patients use advanced directives to refuse life sustaining treatment when they become incapacitated?
Yes
What is the ethical and legal difference between withholding and withdrawal of life sustaining treatment?
There isn’t one
When are advanced directives legally enforceable?
When a patient loses decisional capacity
Can ordinary power of attorney be used for decision-making for incapacitated patients?
No, only a durable power of attorney continues through incapacity
Define neoplasia
general process of new growth
Define neoplasm
A new growth
Define cancer
general term for all malignant tumors
Are tumor and malignancy synonymous?
No
Tumor = neoplasm
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting squamous epithelium?
Benign: squamous papilloma
Malignant: squamous cell carcinoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting glandular epithelium
Benign: adenoma
Malignant: adenocarcinoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting surface epithelium?
Benign: papilloma
Malignant: papillary carcinoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting smooth muscle
Benign: leiomyoma
Malignant: leiomyosarcoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting striated muscle?
Benign: Rhabdomyoma
Malignant: Rhabdomyosarcoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting blood vessels?
Benign: Hemangioma
Malignant: Angiosarcoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting fat?
Benign: Lipoma
Malignant: Liposarcoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting cartilage?
Benign: chondroma
Malignant: chondrosarcoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting bone?
Benign: osteoma
Malignant: osteosarcome
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting fibroblasts?
Benign: fibroma
Malignant: fibrosarcoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting melanocytes?
Benign: nevus
Malignant: malignant melanoma
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting totipotent germ cells?
Benign: mature teratoma
Malignant: immature teratoma (teratocarcinoma)
Name of benign and malignant tumors affecting lymph nodes/bone marrow?
Benign: low grade lymphoma
Malignant: high grade lymphoma
Six steps in the invasion-metastasis cascade?
- Local invasion
- Intravasation into blood/lymphatic vessels
- Transit in vessel
- Arrest/extravasation into distant tissue
- Micrometastasis formation (small nodules)
- Colonization
What is the first transformation cancer cells must make in order to complete metastasis?
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition
Is metastasis an efficient or inefficient process?
Very inefficient
Less than 0.01% of cancer cells in circulation develop into metastases
Define hypertrophy
Increase in tissue mass without cellular proliferation (aka increase in cell size)
Define hyperplasia
Increase in tissue mass due to an increase in cell number
Define metaplasia
A reversible change in which a differentiated cell type is replaced by another cell type. Most common in mucosal/epithelial surfaces
Usually happens in response to a stimulus
Becomes a problem when stimulus/irritant continues and produces genetic changes leading to autologous growth and cancer
What are four types of non-neoplastic growth & differentiation?
- Reparative proliferation (granulation tissue)
- Hypertrophy
- Hyperplasia
- Metaplasia
Characteristics of benign neoplasms?
Autonomous growth that is slow and progressive
Growth by expansion NOT invasion
Encapsulation/clear demarcation from normal tissue
Cells with high degree of differentiation/preserved architecture
Define ectopic
Normal tissue in abnormal location
Define hamartoma
normal tissue components in an abnormal/disorganized configuration (“at home”)
Define choristomas/heterotopia
Normal tissue but in the wrong place
Ex: normal pancreatic tissue ectopically present in the wall of the stomach
Define polyp
Grossly visible growth projecting from a surface, often a mucosal surface
General term. Can be hyperplastic (non-neoplastic), benign, or malignant
Define hyperplastic polyp
Most common type of colonic polyp; lacks malignant potential . Has “saw-tooth”/serrated/tufted appearance
In many organs/locations
Is benign neoplastic growth reversible?
“the process is not generally considerable reversible”
What does “oma” mean?
Tumor (no distinction between benign or malignant though!)
What is Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome?
Autosomal dominant genetic condition characterized by visceral cysts, benign masses, and the potential for malignant transformation in multiple organ systems
Clinical features of Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome?
Eye tumor, brain tumor, kidney tumor, adrenal gland tumor, pancreatic tumor, Cafe Au Lait spots, CVS (strokes and heart attacks)
Most common type of disease-causing mutation?
Single point mutation
Three ways proto-oncogenes are converted into oncogenes?
- Point mutation
- Gene amplification
- Chromosomal rearrangement
What does Ras bind in its active state? Does this induce or inhibit cell growth?
GTP
Induces cell growth
What oncogene in responsible for Neuroblastoma? What is its mechanism from proto-oncogene to oncogene?
N-myc
Amplification
How do Burkitt lymphoma tumor cells appear on H&E?
Round, homogenous, and display a high mitotic rate
Chromosomal translocation responsible for Burkitt lymphoma?
8 and 14 (14q has new IgH-myc gene)
Places the myc gene adjacent to IgH enhancer/promoter
Chromosomal translocation responsible for Chronic Myelogenous leukemia (CML)?
9 and 22 (9q has new Bcr-Abl gene)
Bcr-Abl is a constitutively active tyrosine kinase that leads to cell growth
What drug inhibits Bcr-Abl function?
Imatinib (Gleevec)
Binds into the ATP site of Bcr-Abl and inhibits tyrosine kinase functionality
Gleevec is a synthetic ATP mimic
Effect of mutations on tumor suppressor genes?
Inactivation
Effect of mutations on oncogenes?
Activation
First tumor suppressor gene identified?
Rb
13q
Main job of Rb?
“Molecular policeman” of the cell cycle: serves as a guard at the G1/S transition
What is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancer?
p53
95% of p53 mutations are found where?
point mutations in the DNA-binding domain
The cancer cell phenotype is (dominant or recessive) to the normal cell phenotype?
Recessive
per cell fusion experiment