Lec 25 Cancer (just the basics)

Question 1

Two major classes of cancer-related genes

Answer 1

Question 2

Two major classes of cancer-causing mutations

Answer 2

Question 3

How do mutations accumulate to cause cancer

Answer 3

Most cancers need multiple genes to mutate before they can develop. A few cancers come from only one or two mutations

Question 4

6 Hallmarks of cancer

Answer 4

Healthy tissues in homeostasis have a balance between growth rate and degradation rate. In tumors there is an imbalance. These hallmarks help cause the imbalance

1) self-sufficiency in growth signals (activate H-ras oncogene)
2) Insensitivity to anti-growth signals (Rb mutations)
3) Tissue invasion and metastasis (inactivate E-cadherin)
4) Limitless replicative potential (ex: mutations that upregulate telomerase)
5) Sustained angiogenesis
6) Evading apoptosis (ex: p53 mutations)