Normal Vs. Cancer cells

Question 1

Medium

Answer 1

• Normal: liquid only
• Cancer: can grow in semi-solid

Question 2

chromosomes

Answer 2

• Normal: typical karyotype (chromosomes)
• Cancer: often too many or too few chromosomes (aneuploidy)

Question 3

proteases

Answer 3

• Normal: secrete few
• Cancer: secrete many

Question 4

size

Answer 4

• Normal: larger (lower nucleus to cytoplasm ratio)
• Cancer: smaller (higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio)

Question 5

cytoskeleton

Answer 5

• Normal: organized
• Cancer: disorganized

Question 6

extracellular matrix

Answer 6

• Normal: extensive
• Cancer: little

Question 7

layer

Answer 7

• Normal: single layer (contact inhibition)
• Cancer: multi-layer (no contact inhibition)

Question 8

Serum Dependency

Answer 8

• Normal: serum dependant growth
• Cancer: can be serum independent if they make their own growth factors

Question 9

growth factors

Answer 9

• Normal: secretes few growth factors
• Cancer: can secrete their own growth factors

Question 10

telomere length

Answer 10

• Normal: telomeres shorten with each divison, 25-50 divisions max
• Cancer: dont shorten with each division

Question 11

glycolysis

Answer 11

• Normal: normal
• Cancer: warburg effect: ramped up glycolysis to survive low oxygen environments

Question 12

permeability

Answer 12

• Normal: standard
• Cancer: 10x more permeable

Question 13

angiogenesis

Answer 13

• Normal: none
• Cancer: secrete angiogenesis factors