L18: Cancer Flashcards
This is a mutation that occurs in a cell that go on to make gametes, the mutation can be passed on to the next generation.
Germline mutations
This mutation can occur in other cells and cannot be passed on. Cancer cells are an example.
Somatic mutations
This is a collection of related diseases that can start almost anywhere in the body.
Cancer
These are cells within a tissue that no longer respond to many of the signals that control cellular growth and death. These cells overtime grow to become resistant to the controls that maintain normal tissue and divide rapidly.
Cancer cells
When does metastasis happen in cancer?
The later stages of cancer, when cells break through normal tissue boundaries
This is the result of an accumulation of mutations, mostly associated with DNA replication.
Cancer
Why does cancer usually take place in the later stages of life?
Because of DNA mutations. The more times a DNA replicates, the more likely it is to get a mutation.
Incidence of cancer increases with age.
True or false. Mutations may be spontaneous or a result of exposure to a mutagen.
True.
These genes encode proteins that normally prevent uncontrolled cell growth. They have proteins that inhibit cell division and prevent other mutations. Lack of these genes can stimulate cell growth.
- it is the brake.
Tumor suppressor genes
These genes encode proteins that promote cell growth. It has proteins that stimulate cell division.
Oncogenes.
Cancer mutations would usually increase the activity of what genes?
Oncogenes.
Mutations in these genes decrease gene activity.
Tumor suppressor genes
- when both tumor suppressor genes are inactivated (like transcription factors), there’s no genes to stop cell growth so it would just increase cell division.
- decrease gene activity because by inactivating the TSG, cell growth is promoted but the gene itself is inactive.
Mutations in these genes increase gene activity
Oncogenes.
This is a normal gene that when mutated can promote uncontrolled cell growth.
Proto-oncogene
What 2 common mutations can occur in the oncogene? (like in terms of what the mutation can do)
- mutations increase transcription
- mutations that increase protein activity
Remember oncogenes make the cell hyperactive
Chronic myeloid leukemia is a cancer that is a result of what specific type of mutation?
Translocation (fusion) of chromosome 9 and 22 (to form BCR-ABL gene)
What does the BCR gene do? (in terms of Chronic myeloid leukemia)
is a tumor suppressor gene (it’s supposed to stop cell cycle once it’s done)
What does the ABL gene do? (in terms of Chronic myeloid leukemia) What happens to it once it has mutated?
ABL is an oncogene (it promotes cell division)
ABL, once mutated can self-phosphorylase so it does not need a signal outside of the cell to divide.
What is the proto-oncogene released as a result of Chronic myeloid leukemia?
ABL-BCR gene - this is always active.
True or false. Only one tumor suppressor gene needs to have the mutation to cause cancer.
False. Both copies of the tumor suppressor gene have to be mutated.
This is a concept that states how inherited mutations increase chance of cancer. This is because being born with cancer means you’d need fewer mutations to lead to uncontrolled cell growth and division.
Genetic predisposition
What does genetic predisposition mean?
Inheriting mutations that cause cancer, means you’re more likely to get it.
What are the 4 common ways in which cancer can be treated?
Surgery (removing cancer cells), Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Targeted Therapy
This is a method of treating cancer that involves using targeted radiation to treat cancer cells.
Radiation therapy
This is a method of treating cancer that uses drugs that target dividing cells as cancer cells grow and divide rapidly.
Additional que: why does this treatment cause a person to lose hair?
Chemotherapy.
This results in hair loss because the chemicals affect somatic cells that don’t have cancer.
This is a method of treating cancer that uses drugs that target changes in cancer cell that allow them to grow and divide.
Example: Gleevac inhibits activity of BCR-ABL gene.
Targeted therapy
Why is it important to tightly control cell number?
To ensure that the cell is functioning properly.
