Cancer Dr. Rana

Question 1

cancer

Answer 1

uncontrolled cell growth

Question 2

neoplasia

Answer 2

abnormal accumulation of cells , imbalance between cellular prolifteration and cellular attrition

Question 3

tumor

Answer 3

swelling caused by abnormal growth of a tissue. Develops from a SINGLE CELL / They RETAIN the characterisistics of the cell. but have altered hiistological features

Question 4

The 2 tumor types

Answer 4

benign- do not spread, round

malignant- invade , irregular shaped

Question 5

familiy cancer

Answer 5

heriditary cancers, a specific gene is passed down. It is inherited thru germline cells

Question 6

sporadic cancers

Answer 6

no identifiable inherited gene involved

Question 7

what are the 3 main forms of cancer

Answer 7

sarcoma
carcinoma
hematopoitic/lymphodneoplasms

Question 8

sarcoma

Answer 8

tumor of mesenchymal tissue such as bone , muscle, connective or nervous system

Question 9

carcinoma

Answer 9

originate in epithelial tissue such as cells in large intestine , bronchi or mammary ducts

Question 10

what are the 2 kinds of mutations involved in cancer

Answer 10

driver- invovled in development of cancer itself

passenger- RANDOM, not recurrent , does not directly cause neoplasia

Question 11

for driver mutations what are the 2 broad catorgories of genes

Answer 11

oncogenes

tumor supressor genes

Question 12

What is an oncogene? What is the normal gene called?

Answer 12

oncogene = mutant version of protooncogene.

protooncogenes are important for growth and survival . But when mutated they turn into oncogene and they keep growing without any apoptosis being able to occur

Question 13

what are the 3 genes that oncogenes encode

Answer 13

1. proteins for signaling pathways for cell proliferation
2. transcription factors that control expression of grwoth promotoing genes
3. inhibitors of programmed cell death machinary

Question 14

what are the 4 kinds of gain of function mutations on oncogenes

Answer 14

1. point mutation-one codon can get switched out for another
2. Translocation - movement of the protoocogene to a new location
3. Amplification of the gene
4. Virus infection

Question 15

What are the 2 main functions of tumor suppressor genes? What kind of mutation can occur?

Answer 15

they are the gate keepers/ care takers. Their main functions are to:

1. control the cell growth by blocking tumor development.
2. promote apoptosis

Loss of function mutations can occur

Question 16

What does the 2 hit origin of cancer refer to

Answer 16

There is damage on both of the chromosomes leading to cancer

1st hit: DNA damage or inherited

2nd hit: Mutation , loss of heterozygosity, methylation

Question 17

if someone has an inherited predisposition to cancer that means they have a …

Answer 17

familial cancer

Question 18

how does sporadic cancer develop later in age

Answer 18

you inherit 2 normal alleles. 1 get damaged and then the other gets damaged during second hit leading to tumor development

Question 19

how does heriditary cancer develop

Answer 19

you inherit one damaged and one normal allele leading to cancer development

Question 20

What are some characteristics of familial cancers

Answer 20

1. multiple generations affected
2. Transmitted thru mom and dad
3. increased risk of developing one or 2 tumors
4. earlier age of onset
5. multiple bilateral tumors
6. variable penetrance

Question 21

What mutation causes retinoblastoma

Answer 21

mutation in a TSG (tumor suppressor gene)

Question 22

What are the key features of retinoblastoma

Answer 22

caused by: mutation in TSG

Malignant tumor of the retina in infants

usually have to remove the eye

40% of the cases are heritable