Cancer overview

Question 1

What species is the only species that doesn’t develop tumours?

Answer 1

Naked mole rat

Question 2

What types of cancers are more rare - Genetic or environmental?

Answer 2

Genetic

Question 3

What are the bigger factors of cancer?

Answer 3

External factors

E.g. Exposure to carcinogens like smoke, diet, charcoal

Question 4

External factors being the bigger factors to cancers is supported by what evidence?

Answer 4

Twin studies (if 1 twin gets cancer, the other usually doesn't)
Migration studies (profile of cancer become more like ones indigenous to the new location)

Question 5

What is the biggest factor of cancer?

Answer 5

Age

Question 6

Name the 7 main hallmarks of cancer

Answer 6

1) Always on the go (overexpression of oncoproteins)
2) Bypass “stop” signals (inhibition of tumour suppressor proteins)
3) Ignore “slow down + die” signals (Inhibition of pro-apoptotic proteins)
4) Increase food supply (Overexpression of angiogenic proteins to make new blood vessels)
5) Immortality (activation of telomerases)
6) Avoid immunosurveillance
7) Metastasis (spread to other sites)