Lecture 31 - Cancer I Flashcards

1
Q

What are some properties of cancer cells? (6)

L31 S7

A
  • cells grow out of control
  • self sustaining (do not require signal to grow)
  • release autocrine growth factors
  • don’t respond to anitgrowth factors
  • ignore apoptotic signals
  • invade areas reserved for other cells
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2
Q

What are the two classifications of tumors and what differentiates them?

L31 S11

A

Benign:
-noninvasive

Malignant:
-invasive (cancer)

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3
Q

What are the classifications of cancer?

L31 S12

A

Carcinoma:
-cancer derived from epithelial cells

Sarcoma:
-cancer derived from connective tissue or muscle tissue

Leukemia/lymphoma:
-cancer derived from WBCs or their precursors

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4
Q

What trait of a tumor indicates that it is metastatic?

L31 S23

A
  • tumor breaks through basal lamina and is able to enter the blood stream
  • once in the blood stream the tumor cells can leave and proliferate elsewhere in the body
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5
Q

What is angiogenesis and what role does it have in cancer?

L31 S24

A

Angiogenesis: formation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels

-tumors release factors that stimulate angiogenesis due to their increased demand for nutrients

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6
Q

Differentiate between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Explain how mutations in both lead to cancer.

L31 S33

A

Oncogenes:

  • genes, that when mutated, result in an increase in activity or gain of function
  • cancer can result from a single mutation in just one copy of an oncogene (dominant)

Tumor suppressor genes:

  • genes whose normal function is to suppress tumor formation by inhibiting growth
  • loss of function in both copies of the gene results in cancer (recessive)
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7
Q

Mutation of what type of gene other than oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes can result in cancer?
What is the mechanism by which this occurs?

L31 S35

A
  • mutations in genes involved in DNA maintenance such as DNA repair genes or cell cycle checkpoint genes
  • loss of function of DNA repair genes can result in accumulation of mutations
  • loss of function of cell cycle checkpoint genes can result in DNA damage being replicated
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8
Q

What are mechanisms by which protooncogenes may be activated into oncogenes?

L31 S41-42

A

Deletion/point mutation:
-can cause hyperactive protein

Regulatory mutation:
-produces an increased amount of protein through mutation of the promoter

Gene amplification:
-multiple copies of the gene resulting in increased production of the gene

Chromosomal rearrangement:
-gene placed after new regulatory region resulting in increased production

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