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Cancer Biology: Self-Sufficiency in Growth Signals
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Cancer Biology: Self-Sufficiency in Growth Signals

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Questions and Answers

What is a characteristic of cancer cells that allows them to grow and divide without external growth signals?

  • Rapid apoptosis
  • Differentiation into mature cells
  • Self-sufficiency in growth signals (correct)
  • Dependence on normal checkpoints
  • What is an example of autocrine signaling in cancer cells?

  • Production of TGF-β to inhibit cell growth
  • Expression of HER2 to respond to EGF
  • Increased expression of p53 to induce apoptosis
  • Release of PDGF to stimulate growth (correct)
  • What is the consequence of constitutive activation of growth factor receptors in cancer cells?

  • Increased response to anti-growth signals
  • Uncontrolled growth and proliferation (correct)
  • Differentiation into mature cells
  • Induction of apoptosis
  • What is the result of cancer cells bypassing normal cell cycle checkpoints?

    <p>Uncontrolled growth and proliferation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a growth factor produced by cancer cells?

    <p>PDGF</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of cancer cells becoming resistant to anti-growth signals?

    <p>Uncontrolled growth and proliferation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of self-sufficiency in growth signals in cancer biology?

    <p>Autonomous growth stimulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Self-sufficiency in Growth Signals

    Definition

    • Normal cells require growth signals to proliferate and survive
    • Cancer cells acquire the ability to grow and divide without these external signals, becoming self-sufficient

    Key Features

    • Autocrine signaling: Cancer cells produce their own growth factors, stimulating their own growth and proliferation
    • Constitutive activation: Cancer cells have constitutively active growth factor receptors, allowing them to respond to growth signals even when they are not present
    • Bypass of normal checkpoints: Cancer cells can bypass normal cell cycle checkpoints, allowing them to continue growing and dividing despite DNA damage or other abnormalities

    Examples

    • Autocrine growth factor production: Cancer cells producing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) to stimulate their own growth
    • Mutations in growth factor receptors: Activating mutations in receptors such as HER2 or EGFR, leading to constitutive activation and uncontrolled growth

    Consequences

    • Uncontrolled growth and proliferation: Cancer cells can grow and divide rapidly, leading to tumor formation and progression
    • Resistance to anti-growth signals: Cancer cells can become resistant to anti-growth signals, such as TGF-β, which normally inhibit cell growth and division

    Self-sufficiency in Growth Signals

    Definition

    • Normal cells rely on external growth signals to proliferate and survive
    • Cancer cells acquire ability to grow and divide without external signals, becoming self-sufficient

    Key Features

    • Cancer cells produce their own growth factors, stimulating their own growth and proliferation through autocrine signaling
    • Constitutively active growth factor receptors in cancer cells allow them to respond to growth signals even when not present
    • Cancer cells can bypass normal cell cycle checkpoints, continuing to grow and divide despite DNA damage or other abnormalities

    Mechanisms

    Autocrine Signaling

    • Cancer cells produce platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) to stimulate their own growth
    • Examples of autocrine growth factor production include PDGF, EGF, and TGF-α

    Constitutive Activation

    • Activating mutations in receptors such as HER2 or EGFR lead to constitutive activation and uncontrolled growth
    • Mutations in growth factor receptors result in continuous signaling, driving cancer cell growth and proliferation

    Consequences

    • Uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cancer cells lead to tumor formation and progression
    • Cancer cells become resistant to anti-growth signals, such as TGF-β, which normally inhibit cell growth and division

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    Quiz Team

    Description

    Learn about the characteristics of cancer cells, including autocrine signaling and constitutive activation, which enable them to grow and divide without external growth signals.

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