principles of cancer biology 22% AB Flashcards
What is the normal function of proto-oncogenes?
normal genes in the body that help cells grow and divide to make new cells
List the regulatory levels that can be altered to result in proto-oncogene oncogenesis to an oncogene?
1) genomic mutations: point mutations, insertions/deletions, inversions, duplications, translocations
2) epigenetic changes: specific, global
3) proteomic changes: ubiquitination, viral oncoproteins
4) metabolic changes
What is an oncogene?
a gene which in certain circumstances can transform into a tumor cell
List key oncogenes
p110a
EGFR
ERBB2 (HER2)
B-RAF
K, H, N - RAS
MYC
BCR-ABL = RALEIGH CHROMOSOME in dog
IDH 1/2
JAK2
KIT
MET
FLT-3
ALK
ROS1
NTRK
Example of a proto-oncogene?
MDM2
*AG study guide
Trastuzumab is a monoclonal Ab that targets which receptor/oncogene?
HER2 (ERBB2) receptor, HER2/Neu oncogene
Which chromosome is involved in BCR in humans? Dogs? ABL?
Humans = chromosome 22
Dogs = chromosome 26
ABL = chromosome 9 in BOTH species
What is the result of BCR-ABL fusion at the cellular level?
constitutively activated tyrosine kinase in the cytoplasm –> continuous cell growth
Which drug inhibits BCR-ABL?
Imatinib (Gleevec) - binds near ATP binding site –> locks BCR-ABL in an inhibit conformation
What type of translocation occurs in human CML?
BCR-ABLR (chromosome 9 and 22 translocation)
*reported in ALL and AML
Which molecular alterations are associated with canine LSA?
- Myc-IgH translocation in BL
- Rb deletion in CLL
- Bcr-Abl translocation in CML
List the MYC targets and promotion of tumorigenesis
- promotes cell cycle progression
- down regulation of CDK inhibitors
- up regulation of cyclin D1, CDk4 CDC25A and E2F transcription factors
What is the most common mechanism of MYC deregulation?
whole genome doubling or tandem duplications
Which mutations can inhibit then promote cancer?
myc, TGFb
Which chromosome is c-myc located on in people?
chromosome 8
*regulates 15% of all genes
List the genes related to sustained proliferative signaling.
Ras, Myc
Which genes are involved in evading growth suppressors?
p53, Rb1, PTEN, CDKN2A (p16)
Which genes induce angiogenesis?
VEGF-a, VHL
Which genes are involved in activating invasion and metastasis?
N-cadherin, SNAIL, Slug, TWIST, Zeb 1/2
Which genes resist cell death?
Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL upregulation
Suppress Bax, Bim, Bak
Which genes enable replicative immortality?
TERT, wnt, Notch, Hh pathway
Which genes deregulate cellular energetics?
Warburg effect, GLUT1 transporters, Rad, Myc, p53 mutants
Which genes are affected with genomic instability and mutations?
mutations in “house keeping” genes
Which genes are involved in tumor-promotion/inflammation?
GFs, proangiogenic factors
Which kinases are monomeric?
EGFR, FGFR
Which kinases are dimeric?
PDGFR
Which receptors does epidermal growth factor (EGF) bind?
ERBB1, 3, 4
ERBB2 = HER2 but does not bind directly (dimerizes with other ERBBs)
Which portion of the EGF/ERBB is subject to oncogenic mutations?
all 3 portions (N terminal extracellular ligand binding domain, intracellular kinase domain, and C regulatory tail)
*transmembrane receptors that signal intracellular downstream
In which tumor type is ERBB2 over expressed?
mammary carcinoma
Draw the PI3 kinase Pathway
Where do alterations occur in the PI3K pathway in cancer?
- PTEN loss
- p110 activating mutations/amplifications
- less frequent p85, AKT, PDK genes
In the PI3K pathway, what does PIP3 phosphorylate?
AKT
What mutation occurs in ~50% of canine HSA?
PTEN –> mTOR/PI3k pathway disruption
DLBCL in dogs and humans share which common pathway mutations?
NFKB and PI3K, Jak Stat (n-ras, p53, Rb, p16, CDK, telomerase)
Ras cell signaling is associated with multiple types of human cancers. Which hallmark does Ras signaling best represent?
Sustained proliferative signaling
Which pathway is RAS and RAF involved? Draw it.
MAP kinase pathway
RAS GDP bound = inactive, GTP bound = active
List the 3 RAS genes and the most common mutations
K-RAS, N-RAS, H-RAS
gain of function substitutions in codons 12, 13, and 61 which impair RAS-GTP hydrolysis locking the protein in an activated state
What is the primary downstream effector of RAS?
RAF
B-RAF = V600E substitution in people = V595E in DOGS
Which percentage of canine UC have RAF mutations?
87% V595E somatic mutation on chromosome 16
How might you treat a patient that develops resistance to a RAF inhibitor?
MEK inhibition
- Upstream: Farneyl transferase inhibitor, gerangyglgeranyl transferase inhibitor (AG SG)
Name of BRAF inhibitor?
vemerafinib
Name of MEK inhibitor?
Trematinib “MEKinist”
List the proangiogenic oncogenes.
RAS, HER2, EGFR
List the antiangiogenic oncogenes.
PTEN, p53, VLH
Role of IDH1/2?
homodimeric enzymes that catalyze the conversion of isocitrate to alpha kteoglutarate resulting in NADPH from NADP+
Mutations found in HUMAN AML, chondrosarcoma, glioma, and cholangiocarcinoma
Define tumor suppressor genes.
normal genes that slow down cell division or result in apoptosis. When ineffective, cells grow out of control.
List the key tumor suppressor genes.
p53
PTEN
p16 (ink4a)
p14 (arf)
BRCA 1/2
LKB1
VHL
APC
FBXW7
NF 1/2
Which cancer has mutations in STAT3 and p53?
OSA
p53 defects are associated with which disease?
Li Fraumeni - rare autosomal dominant disorder that leads to a wide variety of cancers
What regulates p53 and how does affinity change based on phosphorylation?
- MDM2
- when p53 is phosphorylated by ATM its affinity for MDM2 is reduced which allows p53 to accumulate and act as a transcription factor
Which is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer?
TP53 gene encoding p53 protein
Where is p53 normally located? Following stress signals?
Cytoplasm then moves to nucleus
In which phase of the cell cycle does p53 cause arrest?
G1
What activates intrinsic apoptotic pathway?
cell stress, p53
What is the most common mechanism of loss of heterogeneity?
mutations in p53 or other tumor suppressor genes
PTEN associated chromosome?
10q23 (humans)
*phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome TEN
What is the function of PTEN normally?
- dual specificity protein and lipid phosphatase- blocks PI3k signaling by inhibiting PIP3 dependent AKT activation therefor inhibiting cell survival, growth, and proliferation
- Converts PIP3 back to PIP2
- inhibits oncogenic transformation
What happens with PTEN down regulation/loss?
increased PIP3 levels –> hyper activation of downstream AKT signaling –> cell growth/proliferation/etc
What is the most common mechanism of PTEN loss?
chromosomal deletions at 10q23 locus
Mutations in BRCA 1/2 result in?
breast and/or ovarian cancer in people (heredity)
Mutations in BRCA 2 or Fanc have been associated with which disease?
Fanconi anemia
List the caretaker genes, their function, and tumor risk if mutated.
- BRCA 1, DNA repair, breast/ovarian cancer
- BRCA 2, DNA repair, breast cancer (female or male)
- MSH2/1, DNA mismatch repair, hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer
List the gatekeeper genes, their function, and tumor risk if mutated.
- p53, transcription factor, Li-fraumeni syndrome
- RB1, transcription regulator, familial retinoblastoma
- APC, regulates B-catenin function, familial adenomatous polyposis
BRCA 2 and RAD 51 are needed for what repair mechanism?
homologous recombination
What is RAD 51?
- ATPase that forms a nucleoprotein filament on single-stranded DNA.
- function of finding and invading homologous DNA sequences to enable accurate and timely DNA repair
In which scenario would PARP inhibition be effective?
if compromised dsDNA repair (e.g. with BRCA 1/2 loss or RAD51 loss)
When tumors lack or have defective BRCA 1/2, what is the result?
- not able to use homologous recombination for DNA repair
- use instead PARP as an alternative repair pathway (why PARP inhibition is effective, blocks ssDNA repair)
What occurs when giving a PARP inhibitor with platinum agent or RT to patients with BRCA mutations?
- synthetic lethality
- BCRA mutations = homologous recombination defect, dependent on base excision repair
- PARP inhibitors impair base excision repair –> cell death
Name of PARP inhibitor?
Olaparib
Describe homologous recombination. Acts for which type of DNA? In which phase of the cell cycle?
- type of genetic recombination in which nucleotide sequences are exchanged between two similar or identical molecules of DNA
- dsDNA
- G2
What is the normal function of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb)?
- tumor suppressor that regulates activity of transcription facts in the E2F family constraining cell cycle progression at the G1 to S phase transition
- when phosphorylated does not bind E2F –> cell cycle progression
- when hypophosorylated binds E2F –> stops cell cycle progression
Which viral cancer is Rb associated with?
HPV in humans
- E7 protein bind to Rb causing phosporylation and progression through cell cycle for duplication
Define single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).
genomic variant at a single base position in DNA
e.g. “ATCGA” sequence replaced “ATTGA”
- introns or exons
- happen frequently
Define copy number variant (CNVs).
occurs when the number of copies of a particular gene varies from one individual to the next
single nucleotide polymorphisms role in cancer?
- can occur as driver mutations (e.g. affect critical gene)
- influence gene expression
- may occur in promoter regions
- may effect genes involved in mismatch repair and cell cycle regulation
List the types of (copy number variation) CNVs
- Deletion: segment of DNA missing
- Duplication: one or more extra copy of DNA
- Insertion: additional segment of DNA inserted into the genome
- Inversion: segment of DNA flipped or reversed in the genome
- Translocation: segment of DNA moved from one area to the next
What is the affected pathway for ataxia telangiectasia and target protein?
DNA double strand break response; ATM
Nijmegen breakage syndrome has what defective pathway?
DNA double strand break response
How does p53 cause cell cycle arrest?
ATM stabilize/phosp p53 when DNA DSB, p53 activates p21 stops G1/S checkpoint
How does DNA variation (e.g. copy number variants and DNA breaks) result in cancer?
variations cause changes in AA sequences of encoded proteins which may result in hyper activation of oncoprotein or inactivation of tumor suppressors
What are the mechanisms of loss of heterogeneity?
gene conversion, translocation, mitotic recombination
What are 4 ways MYC is activated?
Retrovirus transduction, amplification, translocation, proviral insertion
Define internal tandem duplication.
genetic mutation characterized by the insertion of a segment of DNA resulting in duplication of the gene in tandem/adjacent to the original segment
Which is the most common gene affected by tandem duplication?
MYC
Which missense mutations have been found in dog AML?
FLT3, Ckit, RAS
What is FLT-3?
FMS-like tyrosinase kine 3 receptor = member of the PDGFR family
*AML +/- polycythemia vera (cannot confirm)
In which cancer is FLT3 expressed in both humans and dogs?
AML
- 25-30% of AML in people have FLT3 mutations (internal tandem duplications or point mutations) –> on-going activation of MAPK
Which receptors does toceranib target?
KIT, PDGFR, VEGFR-2, flt-3
Somatic vs germline mutations
Germline mutations are inherited occurring in germ cells where somatic mutations occur in the individual secondary to DNA replication error or environmental exposure in somatic cells
What is one of the most common somatic mutations in canine cancer?
V595E in dogs with UC on chromosome 16 (exon 15)
Li Fraumeni syndrome occurs in people with germline mutations. What type of germline mutations?
autosomal dominant, P53
Genetic inheritance of single nucleotide polymorphisms.
- somatic copy number variants are known to be mutated in multiple human cancers (lung, glioblastoma, breast, colorectal)
- less well documented but heritable germline mutations in copy number variants may also contribute to cancer (neuroblastoma, glioma)
Which breeds have germline mutations in BRCA1 predisposing to mammary cancer?
Shih tzus, English springer spaniels
Which germline/testis protein is expressed in oral melanoma?
MAGE-A (81%)
*also nasal tumors and TVT (100% both),
What is MEN1 and 2?
- Multiple neuroendocrine neoplasia 1 and 2 resulting from germline mutations in tumor suppressor
- Men2 autosomal dominant in RET (rearranged during transfection)
List the key differences between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
oncogenes:
- altered versions of proton-oncogenes that play a role in promoting cellular proliferation “gas pedal” to cancer
- mutations at the cellular level causes a DOMINANT GAIN OF FUNCTION
- occur in SOMATIC CELLS
tumor suppressor genes:
- genes involved in blocking cellular proliferation “brakes” in cancer
- mutations are RECESSIVE and require loss of both alleles for phenotypic change
- LOSS OF FUNCTION
- can occur in GERM CELLS (inherited cancer predisposition) and/or can arise in SOMATIC CELLS
What does epigenetic extrachromosomal elements refer to?
genetic material outside of chromosome in the cell that can have an impact on DNA/RNA expression.
e.g. complimentary DNA, long non coding RNA, RNA interference, silencing RNAs
What is complementary DNA (cDNA)? Use?
synthetic DNA transcribed from mRNA through use of the enzyme reverse transcriptase
mostly in lab for cloning, molecular probes, gene expression studies
What are long non-coding RNAs? Impact?
- RNA molecule longer than 200 nucleotides that DOES NOT code for proteins
- can influence gene regulation interacting with DNA, RNA, or proteins acting as scaffolds or sequestering proteins away from target genes.
- have epigenetic influence on chromatin structure and modification
- can influence transcription and cell cycle
- Implicated in disease
Which veterinary cancers have been associated with dysregulated long non-coding RNAs?
- OSA: MALAT1 and HOTAIR RNA
- oral SCC feline
- equine sarcoids
- k9 LSA
- STS
- mammary tumor
(summary article Vet Sci 2023 Bennett [probs not that important])
RNA interference - what is it?
- process of mRNA degradation that regulates the activity of genes by silencing or suppressing their expression via small interfering dsRNA (siRNA)
How does RNA interference work?
- Production of Small RNAs: include microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). miRNAs are transcribed from genes in the cell’s genome and processed into mature miRNAs, while siRNAs can be derived from exogenous sources such as viruses or introduced experimentally.
- Loading onto RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC): The small RNAs are then loaded onto a protein complex called the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Within the RISC, the small RNA serves as a guide sequence that recognizes complementary sequences in target mRNAs.
- Target mRNA Binding: The RISC complex with the small RNA guide sequence binds to target mRNAs through base-pairing interactions. This binding occurs primarily in the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of the target mRNA.
- Silencing of Gene Expression: Once bound to the target mRNA, RNA interference can lead to gene silencing
What are the two main mechanisms of RNA interference gene silencing?
- mRNA degradation - binding to RNA-induced silencing complex(RISC) to target mRNA leads to degradation of mRNA molecule by cellular enzymes preventing it from being translated into a protein
- translation inhibition - RISC complex interferes with the ribosomes ability to initiate protein synthesis rather than direct degradation
What produces small interfering RNAs (siRNA)?
DICER - key enzyme responsible for producing micro and small interfering RNAs from precursor RNA molecules
Describe how DICER works on the RNA interference pathway.
- Precursor RNA Processing: DICER acts on precursor RNA molecules, which can be long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules or hairpin-loop structures formed by single-stranded RNA.
- Cleavage by DICER: DICER cleaves the precursor RNA molecules into small RNA duplexes typically around 20-25 nucleotides in length. These small RNA duplexes consist of two strands: a guide strand and a passenger strand. The guide strand, which is usually the one with the less stable 5’ end, is loaded onto the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) for target mRNA recognition and gene silencing, while the passenger strand is typically degraded.
- Loading of Guide Strand onto RISC: DICER interacts with other proteins to facilitate the loading of the guide strand of the small RNA duplex onto the RISC complex. The guide RNA serves as a sequence-specific recognition element that guides the RISC complex to complementary sequences in target mRNAs.
- Target mRNA Silencing: The RISC complex, loaded with the guide RNA, binds to target mRNAs through base-pairing interactions, leading to gene silencing through mRNA degradation or translational inhibition.
What is the consequence of micro (miRNA) formation?
Activates RISC enzyme
What are the differences between RNA silencing with micro RNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA)?
- siRNA is EXOGENOUS and specifically binds to mRNA target
- miRNA is ENDOGENOUS with less binding affinity
How are RNA included silencing complex (RISC) and micro (miRNA) related?
- mature miRNA part of active RISC containing DICER
What is the pathway of micro (miRNA) synthesis?
introns and/or other non coding areas (pri-miRNA) produced in nucleus –> precursor miRNA by Dorosha –> miRNA by DICER –> miRNA activates RISC by inhibiting complementary RNA –> neg feedback on DNA transcription
What may be the result of deregulation in DICER and RISC of the RNA interference pathway?
uncontrolled protein synthesis/lack of degradation
What is RNA silencing?
sequence specific cellular responses to RNA (including RNA interference and others) that plays a critical role in regulation of cell growth and differentiation using ENDOGENOUS small RNAs (miRNAs) that play role in carcinogenesis
What exports pre-RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm?
Exportin 5
What are telomeres?
structures at the end of chromosomes that consist of repeating nucleotide sequences
What is the function of telomeres?
- function to protect chromosomes from deteriorating (losing important DNA info during replication) or fusing with other chromosomes
- maintain genetic stability
Describe the structure of a telomere
2 main parts:
1) telomere sequence that forms cap at end of telomeres 5’TTAGGG3’
- Forms T-loop when unwound for replication
2) associated proteins that stabilize structure and regulate length
- Shelterin
- telomerase
- DNA repair proteins
- Check point proteins
What happens to telomeres as cells divide?
gradually shorten - once critically short cells become senescent or undergo apoptosis
*telomere length implicated in many degenerative/aging diseases
How much faster do dogs loose telomeric DNA compared to human?
10x faster
How do cancer cells protect their telomeres?
Telomerase activation - adds new telomere DNA onto chromosome ends or ALT
What is the role of the sheltering complex? Associated proteins?
- bind directly to telomeric DNA to protect from degradation
- TRF1 (Telomere Repeat-Binding Factor 1)
- TRF2 (Telomere Repeat-Binding Factor 2)
- POT1 (Protection of Telomeres 1)
- TIN2 (TRF1-Interacting Nuclear Factor 2)
- TPP1 (Adenine Thymine-rich - Telomere Protein Component 1)
- RAP1 (Repressor Activator Protein 1)
Role of telomerase and components?
- enzyme that adds telomeric DNA sequence
- TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase): The catalytic subunit responsible for synthesizing telomeric DNA.
- TER (Telomerase RNA Component): Provides the template for the addition of telomeric repeats by TERT.
What is telomerase effect on cell signaling pathways?
WNT and B-catenin
- WNT/B-catenin regulates telomerase by increasing TERT
- without B-catenin you get shorter telomeres
- cancer can upregulate B-catenin
Where are the 3 major cell cycle check points?
end of G1
End of G2
Metaphase
What indirectly regulates CDKs?
p53