Cancer

Question 1

Compare and contrast Benign and Malignant tumors

Answer 1

Benign - rarely life threatening, do not invade, do not spread
Malignant - Can be fatal, can invade and destroy, can spread through-out the body

Question 2

Common causes of cancer

Answer 2

Lifestyle, UV exposure, viruses, genetic mutations, hormonal factors

Question 3

The 2 main categories of genetic change that can give rise to cancer?

Answer 3

activation of proto-oncogenes to oncogenes
inactivation of tumour suppressor genes

Question 4

definitions of proto-oncogenes and oncogenes

Answer 4

PO- normal genes which are in healthy cells, code for proteins involved with cell division, cell death and differentiation
O- Arise form mutated PO’s

Question 5

Explain gene amplification

Answer 5

Over expression of a gene causing a PO to act like a O, DNA damage can lead to multiple copies of the same gene leading to over production of certain proteins, each gene is normal it is the increased production that is a problem

Question 6

HER2 amplification in breast cancer

Answer 6

in 20% of all breast cancer, Creates extra copies = more HER2 proteins, HER2 is a receptor for growth factor and makes cancers hypersensitive to growth factors

Question 7

Explain chromosomal translocation

Answer 7

2 unlinked segments of the genome are joined, happens with DNA damage of chromosomes and and incorrect repair joins them, results in a fusion protein or inappropriate expression of a protein

Question 8

Explain what a tumour suppressor gene is?

Answer 8

Codes proteins to reduce the risk of cancer or function as negative regulators of cell proliferation, when mutated cell transforms cell proliferation can occur which progresses to cancer

Question 9

p53 background

Answer 9

Detects DNA damage and blocks replication
Gives cells time to repair DNA before cell division
if DNA cannot be repaired p53 kills the cell

Question 10

what is p53

Answer 10

DNA-binding transcription factor
involved in activating gene responsible for growth arrest and apoptosis
the mutation of tp53 is the most common event in cancer which encode the TS protein p53

Question 11

Compare and contrast Inherited and sporadic cancers

Answer 11

Sporadic = Random/environmental factors
Inherited = a high risk cancer gene from parent

Question 12

2 groups of cancer mutations

Answer 12

Driver(drive cancer) and Passenger(common but do not drive cancer)

Question 13

what are the 10 capabilities required for malignant cell growth

Answer 13

1. Self-sufficiency in growth signals
2. Insensitivity to growth inhibitory signals
3. Evasion of apoptosis
4. can’t fucking die
5. blood supply
6. Tissue invasion and metastasis
7. Deregulated cellular energetics
8. Avoiding immune destruction
9. Genome instability
10. tumour promoting inflammation

Question 14

Most common cancers worldwide

Answer 14

Lung and breast cancer

Question 15

Breast cancer classifications

Answer 15

1. Hormone receptor positive
2. HER2 positive
3. Triple negative - ER, PR, HER2