TBL 5 Carcinogenesis and Cancer Genetics

Question 1

Cancer is characterised by […] and the eventual […] and spread of cells from the […] to other sites of the body.

Answer 1

Cancer is characterised by unregulated cell growth and the eventual invasion and spread of cells formt he site of origin to other sites of the body.

Question 2

Cancer arising from epithelial cells is:

Hint: 85 % of cancer

Answer 2

Carcinoma

Question 3

Cancer arising from Mesoderm cells (e.g. bones, soft tissue):

Answer 3

Sarcoma

Question 4

Cancer arising from Glandular Tissues (e.g. breast tissues):

Answer 4

Adenocarcinoma

Question 5

Hallmarks of Cancer

1. Evasion of […] signals
2. Avoiding […] destruction
3. Unlimited […] potential
4. […] inflammation
5. […] and […]
6. Angio[…]
7. Genome […] and […]
8. Evasion of Cell […]
9. Reprogramming […] metabolism
10. Growth signal […]

Answer 5

Hallmarks of Cancer

1. Evasion of growth inhibitory signals
2. Avoiding immune destruction
3. Unlimited replicative potential
4. Tumor-promoting inflammation
5. Invasion and Metastasis
6. Angiogenesis
7. Genome instability and mutation
8. Evasion of Cell Death
9. Reprogramming energy metabolism
10. Growth signal autonomy

Question 6

What occurs in selective clonal expansion?

Answer 6

• Activation of proto-oncogenes
• Inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes
• Inactivation of genomic stability genes
• Epigenetic changes (histone PTMs, methylation, mRNAs)
• Defects in terminal differentiation
• Defects in growth control
• Resistance to cytotoxicity
• Defects in Programmed cell death

Question 7

Germline mutation vs somatic mutation

Answer 7

Germline

• entire organism is affected
• half of gametes have mutation

Somatic

• patch of affected area
• no gametes have mutation

Question 8

what is the pattern of inheritance for oncogenes?

Answer 8

autosomal dominant

Question 9

what is the pattern of inheritance for homozygous mutation of tumour suppressor genes?

Answer 9

autosomal recessive

Question 10

what is the pattern of inheritance for heterozygous mutation of tumour suppressor genes?

Answer 10

haploinsufficient

Question 11

What are the 3 main influential factors of human carcinogenesis?

Answer 11

• Environmental (Exposures: e.g. radiation, abestos ; Infection: e.g. H. pylori, Hep B, Human papilloma virus)
• Behavioural (Diet and Exercise, Alcohol, Smoking)
• Others ( Reproductive life…?)

Question 12

Conventional cancer therapies (flip to see)

Answer 12

• surgery
• chemotherapy
• radiotherapy
• immunotherapy
• targeted therapy
• others

Question 13

What are the 2 types of goals for treatment?

Answer 13

• Curative treatment ( primary treatment, adjuvant treatment, neoadjuvant treatment)
• Symptom control ( Palliative treatment)

Question 14

What is the region between the minimum effective dose and maximum tolerated dose in a drug?

Answer 14

Therapeutic Index