Cancer Biology: Growth Factors and Signaling Pathways

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Questions and Answers

What happens to the seventh cell in each ommatidium when the 'sevenless' gene is absent in Drosophila melanogaster?

The seventh cell in each ommatidium fails to form.

What type of receptor is encoded by the 'sevenless' gene?

Tyrosine kinase receptor (very similar to the EGF receptor in humans)

What is the function of SOS protein in receptor-associated tyrosine kinase action?

It provokes nucleotide exchange by G-proteins (guanine nucleotide binding), such as Ras.

What happens to the cytoplasmic tail of a receptor during receptor-associated tyrosine kinase action?

It gets phosphorylated. Signup and view all the answers

What can bind to activated Ras?

Binding domains from other proteins. Signup and view all the answers

What are some strategies for therapy targeting components of signaling pathways in cancer?

Novel molecular therapeutic approaches using specific inhibitors, small-molecule compounds, antibodies, peptides, antisense molecules, and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of crosstalk of signaling pathways in cancer?

It allows for the targeting of multiple pathways with specific inhibitors. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of signaling pathways involved in CRC?

EGFR/MAPK, Notch, TGF-β, and Wnt signaling pathways. Signup and view all the answers

What is cancer characterized by at the cellular level?

Uncontrolled cell proliferation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between signaling pathways in cancer cells and normal cells?

Tweaked or altered signaling pathways Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of receptors in cell signaling?

To gather and funnel signals from the cell surface to the cytoplasm Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of studying normal fibroblasts in understanding cancer signaling?

To understand normal signaling pathways and identify what goes wrong in cancer cells Signup and view all the answers

How do oncoproteins and tumor suppressors contribute to cancer development?

By creating signaling imbalances Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Ras protein in cell signaling?

To transmit signals from the receptor through the membrane to the nucleus Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of adding fresh serum to serum-starved fibroblasts?

Allowing synchronous growing and cell division Signup and view all the answers

How does an aberrant signal processing lead to cancer?

Through uncontrolled proliferation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is Cancer?

Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell proliferation
Cancer and normal cells utilize almost identical control circuitry
Pathways in cancer cells have been tweaked

Growth Factors and Signaling Pathways

Growth factors (ligand/signaling molecules) facilitate cell communication
Receptors displayed at the cell surface gather signals and funnel them to the cytoplasm

Studies of Signaling Pathway

Studies start with normal fibroblasts
Serum starvation stops cell growth, while adding fresh serum with mitogenic growth factors allows synchronous growth and cell division

Oncoproteins and Tumor Suppressors

Oncoproteins and tumor suppressors create cancer through signaling imbalances
They are key players in cell signaling

Ras Protein

Ras was identified as an oncogene
Mutated Ras protein causes cell transformation, making cells grow faster
Ras is involved in signaling from the receptor through the membrane to the nucleus

Ras Signaling

Ras is activated by SOS protein
Activated Ras has an effector loop that allows binding domains from other proteins

Signaling Pathways in Cancer

EGFR/MAPK Signaling Pathway in CRC

Not mentioned in the text

Notch Signaling Pathway in CRC

Not mentioned in the text

TGF-β Signaling Pathway in CRC

Not mentioned in the text

Wnt Signaling Pathway in CRC

Not mentioned in the text

Crosstalk of Signaling Pathways

Signaling pathways interact with each other

Strategies for Therapy

Targeting components of signaling pathways in cancer using novel molecular therapeutic approaches
Using specific inhibitors, small-molecule compounds, antibodies, peptides, antisense molecules, and small interfering RNA (siRNA)

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Description

Learn about the role of growth factors and signaling pathways in cancer cells, including how they differ from normal cells and the process of cell communication via signaling molecules.