Characteristics of tumour and cancer cells

Question 1

2 types of tumour cells

Answer 1

benign (non invasive, metastatic) + malignant (invasive

Question 2

Main characteristics of tumour cells (7)

Answer 2

1. Constitutive activation of signalling pathways – activation of oncogenes
2. Loss of sensitivity to tumour suppressor inhibitors- loss of tumour suppressor
   gene
3. Inhibition of apoptosis- loss of tumour suppressor genes
4. Unlimited potential of self-renewal- activation of telomerase (is a terminal
   transferase enzyme responsible for adding DNA repeats to telomere)
5. Immune escape – activation of factors
6. Metastasis (uncontrolled proliferation-spread of cancer cells from one organ to
   another) – activation of different factors.
7. Cancer disposition is inherited.