FoM:L7 - Tumour biology

Question 1

What does the tumour microenvironment include?

Answer 1

stromal cells, cancer stem cells, immune sells and vasculature

Question 2

What are the main differences between carcinomas and sarcomas?

Answer 2

sarcomas
- Connective tissue
- rarer
- metastasis through blood
carcinoma
- epithelial cells
- common
- metastasis through lymph

Question 3

What is an oncogene?

Answer 3

• cell-proliferation is promoted by proto-oncogenes
• usually responsible for growth factor; growth factor receptors; cell cycle proteins; intracellular signalling proteins promoting cell division
• mutations mean these are turned on all the time

Question 4

What are tumour suppressor genes?

Answer 4

• inhibit growth or promote apoptosis
• if both copies are inactive/lost, cell divides more rapidly or avoids apoptosis