L18: Cancer

Question 1

This is a mutation that occurs in a cell that go on to make gametes, the mutation can be passed on to the next generation.

Answer 1

Germline mutations

Question 2

This mutation can occur in other cells and cannot be passed on. Cancer cells are an example.

Answer 2

Somatic mutations

Question 3

This is a collection of related diseases that can start almost anywhere in the body.

Answer 3

Cancer

Question 4

These are cells within a tissue that no longer respond to many of the signals that control cellular growth and death. These cells overtime grow to become resistant to the controls that maintain normal tissue and divide rapidly.

Answer 4

Cancer cells

Question 5

When does metastasis happen in cancer?

Answer 5

The later stages of cancer, when cells break through normal tissue boundaries

Question 6

This is the result of an accumulation of mutations, mostly associated with DNA replication.

Answer 6

Cancer

Question 7

Why does cancer usually take place in the later stages of life?

Answer 7

Because of DNA mutations. The more times a DNA replicates, the more likely it is to get a mutation.

Incidence of cancer increases with age.

Question 8

True or false. Mutations may be spontaneous or a result of exposure to a mutagen.

Answer 8

True.

Question 9

These genes encode proteins that normally prevent uncontrolled cell growth. They have proteins that inhibit cell division and prevent other mutations. Lack of these genes can stimulate cell growth.

• it is the brake.

Answer 9

Tumor suppressor genes

Question 10

These genes encode proteins that promote cell growth. It has proteins that stimulate cell division.

Answer 10

Oncogenes.

Question 11

Cancer mutations would usually increase the activity of what genes?

Answer 11

Oncogenes.

Question 12

Mutations in these genes decrease gene activity.

Answer 12

Tumor suppressor genes

• when both tumor suppressor genes are inactivated (like transcription factors), there’s no genes to stop cell growth so it would just increase cell division.
• decrease gene activity because by inactivating the TSG, cell growth is promoted but the gene itself is inactive.

Question 13

Mutations in these genes increase gene activity

Answer 13

Oncogenes.

Question 14

This is a normal gene that when mutated can promote uncontrolled cell growth.

Answer 14

Proto-oncogene

Question 15

What 2 common mutations can occur in the oncogene? (like in terms of what the mutation can do)

Answer 15

• mutations increase transcription
• mutations that increase protein activity

Remember oncogenes make the cell hyperactive

Question 16

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a cancer that is a result of what specific type of mutation?

Answer 16

Translocation (fusion) of chromosome 9 and 22 (to form BCR-ABL gene)

Question 17

What does the BCR gene do? (in terms of Chronic myeloid leukemia)

Answer 17

is a tumor suppressor gene (it’s supposed to stop cell cycle once it’s done)

Question 18

What does the ABL gene do? (in terms of Chronic myeloid leukemia) What happens to it once it has mutated?

Answer 18

ABL is an oncogene (it promotes cell division)

ABL, once mutated can self-phosphorylase so it does not need a signal outside of the cell to divide.

Question 19

What is the proto-oncogene released as a result of Chronic myeloid leukemia?

Answer 19

ABL-BCR gene - this is always active.

Question 20

True or false. Only one tumor suppressor gene needs to have the mutation to cause cancer.

Answer 20

False. Both copies of the tumor suppressor gene have to be mutated.

Question 21

This is a concept that states how inherited mutations increase chance of cancer. This is because being born with cancer means you’d need fewer mutations to lead to uncontrolled cell growth and division.

Answer 21

Genetic predisposition

Question 22

What does genetic predisposition mean?

Answer 22

Inheriting mutations that cause cancer, means you’re more likely to get it.

Question 23

What are the 4 common ways in which cancer can be treated?

Answer 23

Surgery (removing cancer cells), Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Targeted Therapy

Question 24

This is a method of treating cancer that involves using targeted radiation to treat cancer cells.

Answer 24

Radiation therapy

Question 25

This is a method of treating cancer that uses drugs that target dividing cells as cancer cells grow and divide rapidly.

Additional que: why does this treatment cause a person to lose hair?

Answer 25

Chemotherapy.

This results in hair loss because the chemicals affect somatic cells that don’t have cancer.

Question 26

This is a method of treating cancer that uses drugs that target changes in cancer cell that allow them to grow and divide.

Example: Gleevac inhibits activity of BCR-ABL gene.

Answer 26

Targeted therapy

Question 27

Why is it important to tightly control cell number?

Answer 27

To ensure that the cell is functioning properly.