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Cancer Biology and Therapy > Oncogenes > Flashcards

Flashcards in Oncogenes Deck (34)
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1
Q

TF: oncogenes are recessive

A

false, they’re dominant. meaning you only need one mutation

2
Q

tumour suppressor genes are divided into two groups, what are these two groups?

A

recessive- need mutations in both alleles

haploid sufficient- one mutation can cause abnormal growth due to ineffective DNA damage

3
Q

in haploid sufficient genes why is one mutation enough to cause abnormal growth?

A

the DNA damage repair genes produce proteins that are not at sufficient levels to repair efficiently the extensive DNA damage that usually occurs in cancer cells and this can lead to growth abnormalities

4
Q

explain the process of retrovirus giving rise to oncoprotein

A
  1. Viron RNA is transcribed into ds DNA in the cell
  2. Accidentally transferred truncated DNA provirus is located upstream of the gene
  3. A spliced fusion transcript of viral and cellular sequences is packaged into a progeny viron together with a wild-type genome.
  4. Finally, during next generation reverse transcription recombination between the two genomes generates a DNA provirus composed of the cellular oncogene encoding sequence fused to viral sequences
    when activated these oncogenes encode for GF, signalling enzymes or TF;s
5
Q

3 mechanisms of proto-oncogene activation?

A

1: mutation or deletion due to carcinogens- altered structured proteins
2: mutations or deletions that occur in the regulatory region of the promoter- increased levels of encoded protein which can lead to cancer
3: errors occurring during division resulting in chromosomal translocation

6
Q

philadelphia translocation?

A

abl C9 becomes joined to bcr C22

7
Q

2 pathways of EGRF

A

cytoplasmic pathway

nuclear pathway

8
Q

explain the cytoplasmic EGRF pathway?

A

induces factors which are localised in the cytoplasm which leads to tumorigenesis, proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance and radio resistance

9
Q

how was the nuclear EGFR pathway be activated

A

ligand binding

exposure to vitamin D, radiation, heat

10
Q

explain the nuclear EGFR pathway?

A

Following nuclear translocation, nuclear EGFR interacts with DNA transcription factors E2F1 and STAT3
this induces cyclin D and DNA protein kinase which is involved in DNA repair and radio resistance

11
Q

nuclear EGFR interacts with which DNA transcription factors?

A

E2F1 and STAT3

12
Q

what does interaction of nuclear EGFR and E2F1 and STAT3 induce?

A

Cyclin D and DNA protein kinase

leads to proliferation and cancer

13
Q

what is c-met

A

protooncogene producing a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase

14
Q

structure of the met receptor?

A

heterodimer

extracellular alpha subunit with the N-terminal and beta subunit linked by disulphide bonds

15
Q

the beta subunit consists of?

A
  • semaphoring domain
  • a plexin- semaphorin intergrin cysteine rich domain
  • four immunoglobulins like domains
  • transmembrane region
  • juxta membrane region
  • intracellular tyrosine kinase domain
  • C-terminal tail
16
Q

what is the GF needed to bind for c-met signalling?

A

hepatocyte growth factor

17
Q

what does hepatocyte GF binding to c-met lead to?

A

c-met homodimerisation and autophosphorylation of intracellular TK’s
phosphorylation leads to recruitment of intracellular signalling molecules

18
Q

met activation induces responses such as RAS, RAF, MEK and eERK/MAPK kinases, what can these all do?

A

enter the nucleus and module TFs to regulate cell behaviours

19
Q

TF: c-met can cross talk to different membrane proteins? if true give examples and consequence of this

A
yes
EGFR
plexin B family inter grins
beta catenin 
CD44

consequence: additional signalling response

20
Q

____% of head and neck cancer over express the EGFR

A

90

21
Q

EGFR over expression has been associated with what?

A

poorer prognosis and outcomes

22
Q

therapies targeting EGFR? (4)

A

small molecule TK inhibitors
monoclonal antibodies
PI3K inhibitors
anti-sense gene therapy

23
Q

Gefitinib MOA?

A

EGFR inhibitor which interrupts signalling through EGFR

24
Q

gefitinib is only effective in which type of cancers?

A

those which overexpress or have mutated EGFR

25
Q

Trastuzumab MOA?

A

monoclonal antibody which interfered with HER2 recptor

26
Q

trastuzumab is only effective in which types of cancer?

A

HER2 over expressing cancers

27
Q

what does the bcr-abl protein do?

A

TK which is constitutively active.

binds ATP and transfers a phosphate from ATP to tyrosine residues on various substrates

28
Q

effect of bcr-abl on cells?

A

alteration in adhesion, mitogenic signalling and inhibition of apoptosis

29
Q

how does imatinib work?

A

TKI block ATP binding to BCR-ABL and inhibits the consequent pathways
reduces excessive myeloid cell proliferation

30
Q

ways to target hepatocyte GF interaction with c-met? (3)

A

competitive interferences
blocking TK activity of c-met with TKIs
blocking c-met downstream signalling

31
Q

using HGF or c-met specific antibodies does what?

A

prevents ligand receptor binding resulting in growth inhibition and tumour regression by inhibiting proliferation and enhancing apoptosis

32
Q

using monoclonal ABs allows for what?

A

exclusive specificity
long half life compared to small molecule KIs
elicit a host immune response against the tumour

33
Q

met monoclonal ABs prevent what? (2)

A

HGF binding and subsequent c-met phosphorylation

downstream signalling activity

34
Q

how do small molecule kinase inhibitors stir downstream signals?

A

block phosphorylation of the catalytic domain in the receptor by competitive or non-competitive antagonism of the ATP binding site
thereby preventing recruitment of signal transducers and mediators