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Cancer Biology > Cancer: An Overview > Flashcards

Cancer: An Overview Flashcards

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1
Q

what are chemoreceptors?

A

long strand-like filaments on cancerous cells that are “looking” for nutrient-filled blood & oxygen

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2
Q

cancer results from a breakdown of…

A

normal regulatory mechanisms that govern cell behavior

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3
Q

in cancer cells ______ in an uncontrolled manner

A

proliferate

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4
Q

uncontrolled proliferation is caused from

A

mutation in genes which are responsible for cell cycle regulation

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5
Q

Cancer has the ability to…

A

-spread throughout the body
-interfere w/ the normal function of tissues and organs

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6
Q

list the 3 different types of tumors

A
  1. tumor
  2. benign tumor
  3. malignant tumor
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7
Q

define a tumor

A

any abnormal proliferation of cells

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8
Q

define a benign tumor

A

abnormal proliferating cells that remain:
- in their original location
- do NOT invade surrounding normal tissue
- do NOT spread to distant body sites

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9
Q

define a malignant tumor

A

capable of invading surrounding normal tissue and spreading throughout the body through the circulatory system

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10
Q

what types of tumor are considered cancer?

A

ONLY malignant tumors

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11
Q

list the 3 basic types of cancers

A
  1. carcinomas
  2. sarcomas
  3. leukemias & lymphomas
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12
Q

carcinomas comprise ___ % of human cancers

A

90

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13
Q

define carcinomas

A

malignancies of epithelial cells

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14
Q

explain why carcinomas are the most common types of human cancers

A

epithelial tissues are found on the surface of the skin and line the hollow organs; b/c of location, production rate, and volume of cells most cancers are seen here

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15
Q

sarcomas are ____ ____ in humans

A

very rare

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16
Q

describe sarcomas

A

they are solid tumors of connective tissues such as:
bone
muscle
cartilage
fibrous tissue

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17
Q

sarcomas are _____ to treat

A

difficult

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18
Q

leukemias & Lymphomas comprise ___ % of human cancers

A

7

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19
Q

leukemias arise from…

A

blood-forming cells

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20
Q

lymphomas arise from..

A

cells of the immune systems

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21
Q

tumors are further classified according to..

A

-tissue of origin
-type of cell involved

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22
Q

give some examples of tissues of origin for tumors

A

-lung
-breast
-colon
-liver

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23
Q

list an example of how to classify a cancer based on the type of cell involved

A

fibrosarcoma from fibroblasts

(found below the epithelium & basal lamina (our glue))

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24
Q

normal tissue is a _________ of cells in which different __ ________ have been __________.

A

composite
x chromosomes
inactivated

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25
Q

what are the 4 different types of growth patterns?

A
  1. hypertrophy
  2. hyperplasia
  3. dysplasia
  4. neoplasia
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26
Q

describe the growth pattern known as hypertrophy

A

-increase in cell size
-normal organization

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27
Q

describe the growth pattern known as hyperplasia

A

-increase in cell #
-normal organization
-could be the beginning of benign tumor

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28
Q

describe the growth pattern known as dysplasia

A

-disorganized growth
-involves the basal layer
-is known as a benign tumor

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29
Q

describe the growth pattern known as neoplasia

A

-disorganized growth
-net increase in the # of dividing cells
-known as a malignant tumor
-cells are beginning to migrate

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30
Q

what is an example of tumor progression?

A

colon carcinoma

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31
Q

describe how colon carcinoma is an example of tumor progression

A

proliferation of colon epithelial cells give rise to a small benign adenoma or polyp -> clonal selection leads to growth of adenomas and has the potential to proliferate

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32
Q

list the 8 characteristics of cancer

A
  1. density-dependent inhibition
  2. reduced dependence on growth factors
  3. abnormal or blocked differentiation
  4. reduction cell adhesion
  5. angiogenesis
  6. protease secretion & metastasis
  7. resistance to apoptosis
  8. capacity of unlimited replication
33
Q

describe density dependent inhibition

A

normal cells become quiescent when optimal density is reached; however, tumor cells will continue to proliferate

34
Q

describe reduced dependence on growth factors

A

cancer cells exhibit autocrine growth stimulation causing the cells to produce their own growth factors promoting their proliferation

35
Q

describe abnormal or blocked differentiation

A

hematopoietic stem cells produce different cells by several rounds of differentiation…in leukemic cells differentiation is block at a stage where the cell can continue proliferating

36
Q

describe reduced cell adhesion

A

cells are less restrained from other cells facilitating metastasis

37
Q

describe angiogenesis

A

cancer cells recruiting their own blood supply

38
Q

describe protease secretion & metastasis

A

malignant cells secrete proteases that digest extracellular matrix allowing for the cells to invade any underlying structures

39
Q

describe capacity for unlimted replication

A

caused as a result of telomerase expression
(causes the signal for apoptosis to be overridden)

40
Q

describe focus assay

A
  • detects conversion of normal cells into tumor cells in culture
  • transformed cells display growth properties of tumor cells
41
Q

list 5 carcinogens that cause cancer

A
  1. UV radiation
  2. chemical toxins
  3. mutagens
  4. tumor promoters
  5. viruses
42
Q

list some chemical toxins that cause cancer

A
  • tobacco
  • asbestos
  • benzenes
  • aflatoxin (produced by molds)
43
Q

list some tumor promoters

A
  • phorbol esters
  • endocrine disruptors
  • hormones
44
Q

explain what occurs with tumor viruses in permissive cells

A
  • virus replication
  • cell lysis
  • release of progeny virus particles
45
Q

explain what occurs with viruses in non-permissive cells

A
  • virus replication
    (some cells are permanently transformed)
46
Q

tumor viruses are typically expressed ____ _____ in _________ ____ producing ______ ______ which leads to _________ cells.

A

more highly

inappropriate cells

altered proteins

unregulated

47
Q

list an example of a DNA genome virus

A

Hepatitis B virus

48
Q

list an example of a RNA genome virus

A

Hepatitis C virus

49
Q

few retroviruses contain genes that are potent carcinogens. what is known to be the prototype of these highly oncogenic viruses

A

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV)

50
Q

describe the mechanism by which RSV leads to cell transformation

A

virus picks up a gene that is homologous to our gene. It inserts these homologous genes into our genome causing cell transformation

51
Q

list 3 genetic sources of cancer

A
  1. oncogenes
  2. tumor suppressor genes
  3. DNA repair genes
52
Q

oncogenes aka

A

accelerators

53
Q

tumor suppressor genes are aka

A

brakes

54
Q

DNA repair genes are AKA

A

mechanics

55
Q

oncogenes when mutated…

A

induce viral or cellular transformation

56
Q

when mutated tumor suppressor genes…

A

cannot arrest proliferation

57
Q

DNA repair genes when mutated….

A

cannot repair DNA errors

58
Q

oncogenes result from…

A

-single point mutations
-chromosomal translocations
-amplifications
-translocations

59
Q

give an example of a common oncogene that can cause cancer..

A

rasK (colon, lung, pancreatic, and thyroid carcinomas)

60
Q

describe how RAS mutation can lead to cancer

A

Rat sarcoma virus (RAS) is a g-protein that is activated by binding to GTP. A RAS mutation compromises this binding site so hydrolysis can not occur. Now the cell believes their is an active supply of GF which causes the cell to proliferate uncontrollably

61
Q

Ras and Raf oncogenes constitutively activate what pathway

A

ERK MAP kinase pathway

62
Q

describe what occurs in the translocation of c-myc

A

the proto-oncogene is translocated from chromosome 8 (c-myc) to chromosome 14(IgH)

63
Q

the translocation of c-myc results in…

A

abnormal expression of c-myc causing the transcription factor to respond to GFs

64
Q

translocation of c-myc causes what type of cancer?

A

Burkitt’s Lymphoma (malignancy in B cell production)

65
Q

describe the normal activation of PDGF oncogene

A

PDFG binds to the PDGFr to dimerize

66
Q

describe the abnormal activation of PDGF oncogene

A

tel/PDGF oncogene encodes for a fusion protein where the extra cellular domain of the normal receptor is replaced by Tel transcription factor. this helix-loop-helix causes dimerization of PDGFr in the absence of PDFG. causes the continuous activation of protein kinase

67
Q

name a translocation of an oncogene that results in a fusion protein

A

irel/urg (b-cell lymphoma)

68
Q

proteins encoded by tumor suppressor genes act as..

A

brakes that slow down cell cycle progression

69
Q

what is an example of a prototype of a tumor suppressor gene?

A

Rb (retinoblastoma)

70
Q

what is the target of tumor suppressor genes?

A

cdk4,6/ cyclin D

71
Q

explain the mechanism of Rb, E2F, Ras pathway

A

an unphosphorylated Rb binds to the E2F transcription factor preventing:
- transcription of genes necessary for DNA replication
- passage through G1 checkpoint into S phase

when cells are stimulated by GFs the Ras pathway is activated. a phosphorylated Rb cannot bind to E2F. E2F goes on to activate gene transcription, triggering onset of S phase.

normally Rb is then dephosphorylated and can inhibit E2F again

72
Q

in Rb development that is hereditary the first mutation is present in the

A

germ line

73
Q

in nonhereditary Rb the first mutation occurs in

A

somatic cells

74
Q

list characteristics of retinoblastomas in the eye

A
  • displaced retina
  • thickening of the optic nerve due to tumor proliferation
75
Q

what is involved in the oncogenes that lead to cell survival

A
  • GF
  • GFR
  • PI 3-kinase
  • Akt and Bcl-2
76
Q

what do oncogenes target

A

Akt inhibiting Bcl-2

77
Q

Bcl-2 is

A

anti-apoptotic

78
Q

bcl-2 functions as

A

an oncogene by promoting cell survival

79
Q

how does Bcl-2 promote cell survival?

A

by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria which normally causes apoptosis

Cancer Biology (15 decks)

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