Objectives

Question 1

Describe normal DNA replication and protein synthesis (eg chromosome structure, DNA transcription and binding domains, RNA transcription and translation)

Question 2

Describe common DNA mutations and discuss how these relate to oncogenesis and cancer treatment

Question 3

Define aneuploidy and its significance in cancer

Answer 3

The occurrence of one or more extra or missing chromosomes in a cell or organism.

The ongoing karyotypic changes brought about by chromosomal instability (CIN) contribute to tumor heterogeneity, drug resistance, and treatment failure. Whole-chromosome and segmental aneuploidies resulting from CIN have been proposed to allow “macroevolutionary” leaps that may contribute to profound phenotypic change.

Question 4

Discuss proto oncogenes, their normal function, their role in carcinogenesis, and list key examples

Answer 4

Proto-oncogenes are genes that normally help cells grow and divide to make new cells, or to help cells stay alive. When a proto-oncogene mutates (changes) or there are too many copies of it, it can become turned on (activated) when it is not supposed to be, at which point it’s now called an oncogene.

Question 5

Discuss tumor suppressor genes, their normal function, their role in carcinogenesis, and list key examples

Question 6

Define single nucleotide polymorphisms and copy number variations and recognize their significance in cancer.