Cancer and Genomic medicine

Question 1

What is metastasis?

Answer 1

Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to distant tissues and organs.

Question 2

What are carcinomas?

Answer 2

Carcinomas are cancers that arise from epithelial cells and form solid tumors

Question 3

What are sarcomas?

Answer 3

Sarcomas arise from connective or muscular tissue.

Question 4

What are leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas?

Answer 4

These cancers affect blood cells.

Question 5

What is sporadic cancer?

Answer 5

Sporadic cancer is caused by environmental exposure or unknown factors, without a clear hereditary pattern.

Question 6

What is inherited cancer?

Answer 6

Inherited cancer follows a clear genetic inheritance pattern, often affecting younger individuals.

Question 7

What are proto-oncogenes?

Answer 7

Proto-oncogenes are genes that promote cell growth and division; mutations can convert them into oncogenes, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation.

Question 8

What are tumor suppressor genes?

Answer 8

Tumor suppressor genes limit cell growth and division; mutations can lead to cancer development. Examples: BRCA1, BRCA2, p53.

Question 9

What are DNA repair genes?

Answer 9

DNA repair genes correct errors during DNA replication; mutations make cells more prone to cancer.

Question 10

What is the role of RB in cancer?

Answer 10

RB regulates the G1/S cell cycle transition. Loss of function mutations in RB are common in many cancers, including retinoblastoma.

Question 11

What is TP53’s role in cancer?

Answer 11

TP53 regulates cell cycle, DNA repair, and apoptosis. Mutations in TP53 are present in over 50% of human cancers

Question 12

What is the role of hypermethylation in cancer?

Answer 12

Hypermethylation can silence tumor suppressor genes, contributing to cancer progression.

Question 13

What are miRNAs in cancer?

Answer 13

Certain miRNAs, like Oncom-miRs, can promote cancer progression by regulating gene expression.

Question 14

What is the significance of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in breast cancer?

Answer 14

These mutations significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Question 15

What are the molecular subtypes of breast cancer?

Answer 15

Luminal A: Better prognosis, sensitive to endocrine therapy.
Luminal B: Resistant to endocrine therapy, sensitive to chemotherapy.
HER2+: Responds to anti-HER2 therapy.
Basal-like: Lacks expression of ER, PR, and HER2 receptors

Question 16

What are triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC)?

Answer 16

TNBC lacks ER, PR, and HER2 receptors and does not respond to hormonal therapy, often treated with chemotherapy.

Question 17

What role does epigenetics play in breast cancer?

Answer 17

Hypermethylation of genes like BRCA1 and metastasis-inhibitory genes can contribute to breast cancer progression.

Question 18

.What are driver mutations

Answer 18

Genetic changes that directly contribute to cancer development by promoting cell growth, survival, and proliferation. These mutations provide a selective growth advantage to cancer cells.

Question 19

What are passenger mutations

Answer 19

Genetic changes that occur alongside driver mutations but do not contribute to cancer progression. They are considered “bystanders” and have no direct impact on the growth or survival of cancer cells.