Lung Cancer

Question 1

What causes tumour cells to proliferate uncontrollably?

Answer 1

Transformed cells - genetic mutations or epigenetic event that alters the mechanism of controlling cell growth/proliferation and cell death.

Question 2

Name the 4 major classes of genes that are deregulated.

Answer 2

Proto-oncogenes ==> oncogenes
Tumour suppressor genes
Genes that regulate apoptosis
Genes involved in DNA repair

Question 3

What happens to the proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes?

Answer 3

Proto-oncogenes = gain of function mutation

Tumour suppressor genes = loss of function mutation