Genes in Cancer

Question 1

What is the role of the BRCA1/2 Gene

Answer 1

Human suppressor gene

Question 2

what does a human suppressor gene do

Answer 2

reduces cell division

helps to repair dna breaks

Question 3

what does BRCA stand for

Answer 3

Breast Cancer Gene

Question 4

What mutations do BRCA1 and 2 undergo and what happens

Answer 4

BRCA1 and BRCA2 can mutate that allows cell division and can cause breast cancer

Question 5

What is PARP

Answer 5

enzyme that checks integrity of DNA

repairs it where needed

Question 6

Why would a PARP inhibitor be used in Breast Cancer caused by a BRCA1 gene mutation

Answer 6

to inhibit PARP so that dna is not repaired after treatment.

Question 7

give an example of a PARP inhibitor

Answer 7

olaparib

Question 8

How do we treat breast cancer with a EGFR mutation

Answer 8

block the receptor using a monoclonal e.g. Cetuximab. Note only works if the Tumour is “Wild type”

Question 9

What is CDK4/6q

Answer 9

CDK4/6 = regulator of cell cycle

needs to be present to allow cell to divide and progress through cell cycle

Question 10

how do we manage a mutated cycle dependent kinase 4/6

CDK4/6 gene

Answer 10

Palbociclib
Aromatase inhibitor