Week 1 - Biological Hallmarks of Cancer

Question 1

What is the difference in replication between Single Celled Organisms and Metazoans?

Answer 1

Single Celled Organisms replicate via binary fission

Metazoans replicate through their germ cells

Question 2

Why can mutations be good for Single Cell Organisms?

Answer 2

Mutations can cause an increase in replication which is a selective advantage for SCO’s.

Question 3

Name 6 mechanisms that Metazoans have to prevent cancer.

Answer 3

Cell cycle checkpoints
DNA repair
Contact inhibition
Cell senescence
Telomere shortening
Antioxidants

Question 4

Name the 3 main classifications of a cell in its life-cycle.

Answer 4

Stem Cells
Transit-Amplifying cells
Post-mitotic/Terminally Differentiated cells

Question 5

Where are stem cells found, and why does this place makes them less susceptible to damage/mutation?

Answer 5

Stem cell compartment

Shields them away from Toxic Agents

Question 6

From the 3 classifications of cells, name each type and their associated risk of mutation and why.

Answer 6

Stem Cells - Low chance of mutation - Only occasional division.

Intermediate/Transit-Amplifying cells - High Chance of mutation - actively dividing - high rate of division

Terminal Differentiated/Post-mitotic cells - Low chance of mutation - no division.

Question 7

What is the relationship between number of stem cell divisions and lifetime risk of cancer?

Answer 7

Higher the stem cell divisions the greater the risk of cancer throughout a persons lifetime.

Question 8

Give an example of a type of cell and its relative number of stem cell divisions and how that links to the lifetime risk of a cancer of that cell.

Answer 8

Any example of a cell, and an explanation such as ‘this cell has a high number of stem cell divisions/low number of stem cell divisions, therefore the lifetime risk of getting a cancer of this cell is higher/lower.

Example: FAP Colorectal/melanoma/basal cell/HCV Heptaocellular - High no. of stem cell divisions - high lifetime risk of cancer.

Example: Pelvic Osteosarcoma/arms osteosarcoma/head osteosarcoma - low no. of stem cell divisions - low lifetime risk of cancer.

Question 9

Name the original 6 hallmarks of cancer (Hanahan D., Weinberg R, 2000).

Answer 9

Sustained Proliferative Signalling
Evading growth Suppressors
Activating invasion and metastasis
Enabling Replicating Immortality
Inducing Angiogenesis
Resisting Cell Death

Question 10

Name the current 10 hallmarks (Hanahan D., Weinberg R, 2011).

Answer 10

Sustained Proliferative Signalling
Evading growth Suppressors
Avoiding Immune Destruction
Tumour-Promoting Inflammation
Activating invasion and metastasis
Enabling Replicating Immortality
Inducing Angiogenesis
Genomic Instability
Deregulating Cellular Energetics
Resisting Cell Death