Cancer

Question 1

4 Major types of cancer.

Answer 1

Carcinomas (Epithelial cells)
Sarcomas (Bone and muscle)
Hematopoietic (Blood)
Neuroectodermal (nervous system and skin)

Question 2

Define Monoclonal

Answer 2

Tumor that originates from 1 cell

Question 3

Modifications that convert Proto-oncogenes to Oncogenes

Answer 3

Missense mutation
Gene Amplification
Chromosomal translation
Retroviral insertion

Question 4

How does missense mutation create oncogenes

Answer 4

Genetic sequences change that cause transduction creating different phenotypes to be expressed.

Question 5

How does Gene amplification create oncogenes

Answer 5

A gene is copied too much creating abnormalities.

Question 6

How does Chromosomal translocation cause cancer

Answer 6

Chromosome breaks and is improperly fused with another. Leading to cancer.

Question 7

How does Retroviral insertion create oncogenes

Answer 7

Viruses add Cancer RNA to genome which then get copied.

Question 8

Define Dysplasia

Answer 8

Cells forming abnormal epithelium and and underdeveloped polyps

Question 9

How do cells achieve immortalization?

Answer 9

When a cell adapts perfectly and can proliferate w/o limit

Telomeres become lengthened

Question 10

Characteristics of cancer cells.

Answer 10

Unlimited division
Anchorage independence
Chromosomal damage
Reduced growth factors

Question 11

Define Metastasis

Answer 11

Tumor cells that wander throughout the body and begin to proliferate in different organs

Question 12

What is loss of heterozygosity?

Answer 12

Loss of a genotype because of copying errors on the chromosome

Question 13

How does loss of heterozygosity influence cancer

Answer 13

Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) are often deleted from chromosome.

Question 14

How can a mutation on a single gene target multiple phenotypic characteristics at the same time?

Answer 14

Alteration in chromosomes create a coding for different phenotypes

Question 15

What is the most likely explanation for a specific cancer to appear in several members of the same family?

Answer 15

Genome of cells has observed a mutation that gets passed along via the gametes through miosis

Question 16

What is a “magic bullet” to cancer?

Answer 16

A magic bullet is a drug that targets a tumor and carries a toxin.

Question 17

What is p53?

Answer 17

p53 is a protein that suppresses tumors by arresting the cell cycle.

Question 18

How is apoptosis modified in cancer

Answer 18

Proteins need to be turned off so proteins can initiate apoptosis.

Question 19

How can cancer cell access vital supply

Answer 19

By growing new blood vessles

Question 20

What is angiogenesis

Answer 20

Growth of new blood vessels

Question 21

Define malignancy

Answer 21

Aberrant (unusual) growth

Question 22

How does mutation on Rb protein lead to cancer?

Answer 22

Mutations inactivate and remove Rb proteins so they cant function at R check point.

Question 23

How can virus modify the cell cycle and induce cancer?

Answer 23

Addition of RNA that effects the cell cycle.

Question 24

What are two molecular mechanisms that inactivate tumor suppressors

Answer 24

Silencing through methylation of Cytidines (RNA)

Mutations of TSG alleles

Question 25

Define Hyperplasia

Answer 25

Increased # of cells.

Question 26

Explain the pleitropical effect of a mutated gene in cancer.

Answer 26

Different phenotypes are observed on different tissue

Question 27

Why is p53 considered a tumor suppressor protein?

Answer 27

Because it can put the cell into arrest.

Question 28

How can a proto-oncogene be activated to become an oncogene?

Answer 28

Growth signal is stuck on.
Growth signal activated when ligand isn’t present
(autocrin siglaning)

Question 29

Why is cancer considered progressive?

Answer 29

Begning to malignant to metastasis