Genetic Basis of Cancer

Question 1

C-Myc causes cancer problems by _____

Answer 1

Overproduction

Question 2

Why does (Unilateral) Sporadic Retinoblastoma form later and more rarely compared to familial?

Answer 2

Because two copies of the genes are usually still intact with sporadic “Double Hit hypothesis”

Question 3

p53 two main functions:

Answer 3

1. Halt Cell division (Inhibit CDK)
2. Initiate Apoptosis (Bax)

Question 4

C-Ras mutations cause cancer through___

Answer 4

Inactivation prevention; GTP ends up staying bound

(Reduce GTPase)

Question 5

MDM2 is an anti-apoptotic gene that does what to p53?

Answer 5

It ubiquinates p53 and makes sure that cells don’t get killed or arrested.

Question 6

C-Able proto-oncogene causes cancer problems through _____

Answer 6

Genetic Self Activation through Philadelphia chromosome

(Constitutive Activity of Protein Kinase)
transloc(9;22) (q(34;q11)

Question 7

p14ARG does what to p53?

Answer 7

Competes against MDM2 and phosphorylates p53 so that it can do the killing and arresting.

Question 8

The tumor supressor gatekeeper gene _____ inhibits the G1/S transition by inhibiting E2F

Answer 8

Rb
“The Arby and the ChE2F”

Question 9

Rb and p53 are two important examples of _____ genes

Answer 9

Gatekeeper (Tumor Suppressor)

Question 10

Two types of Tumor-Suppressor Genes

Answer 10

1. Care taker Genes (repair) 2. Gatekeeper genes (stop cell divi)

Question 11

Oncogene vs Proto-Oncogene

Answer 11

The proto-oncogene needs to be altered/mutated to become an oncogene.
- The Oncogene simply needs to be activated to run the risk of developing cancer

Question 12

MLH, ERCC1, and BRCA are examples of ______ genes

Answer 12

Care Taker (Tumor Suppressor)

Question 13

The Proto-Oncogene, mTOR, promotes cell _____

Answer 13

Growth