Cancer Cell Biology Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of telomerase in cancer cells?

  • It helps cancer cells maintain their telomeres. (correct)
  • It modifies the structure of chromosomes.
  • It triggers apoptosis in abnormal cells.
  • It allows cancer cells to enter senescence.

    • What characterizes the crisis phase in cancer cell proliferation?

  • There is an equal rate of cell growth and death. (correct)
  • Cells enhance their adhesion to surrounding tissues.
  • Cells stop dividing completely.
  • Cells undergo rapid mutation without limitations.

    • Which pathway is a telomerase-independent mechanism for telomere maintenance in cancer cells?

  • Apoptotic pathway
  • Crisis pathway
  • Senescence pathway
  • Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) (correct)

    • What is a key factor that controls angiogenesis in tumors?

    <p>Extracellular protease activation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do cancer cells achieve self-sufficiency in growth signals?

    <p>By expressing growth factors or their receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a mechanism by which cancer cells can invade tissues?

    <p>Activating proteases that break down extracellular matrix</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The loss of which adhesion molecule is commonly associated with epithelial cancers?

    <p>E-cadherin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is primarily responsible for the majority of human cancer fatalities?

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

    What leads to the state of crisis in cancer cell replication?

    <p>Accumulation of karyotypic disarray</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway?

    <p>A chromatin remodeling process that maintains telomeres without telomerase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs during the process of metastasis?

    <p>Cancer cells spread to distant locations with nutrient supply</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does sustained angiogenesis support tumor growth?

    <p>By ensuring cells are within 100 micrometers of blood vessels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is associated with enhanced tissue invasion in cancer cells?

    <p>Activation of extracellular proteases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic of cancer cells contributes to their self-sufficiency in growth signals?

    <p>Continuous production of growth signals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a consequence of mutations in chromatin remodeling complexes in cancer?

    <p>Improved DNA repair mechanisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of E-cadherin in epithelial cancers?

    <p>Maintains cell adhesion, and its loss is linked to invasion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when pRB or p53 is disabled in a normal cell?

    <p>The cell continues to multiply until entering crisis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily defines the state of crisis in cancer proliferation?

    <p>Balanced cell growth and death with chromosomal instability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following processes allows cancer cells to maintain their telomeres without telomerase?

    <p>Recombination between chromosomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does angiogenesis play in tumor growth?

    <p>It supports tumor growth by supplying nutrients and oxygen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the relationship between metastasis and cancer cell behavior?

    <p>Cancer cells invade new locations where nutrients and space are abundant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common alteration in cancer cells aids in tissue invasion?

    <p>Loss of function in cell-cell adhesion molecules.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do cancer cells typically exhibit insensitivity to antigrowth signals?

    <p>By having mutated regulatory pathways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mechanism significantly contributes to the maintenance of cancer cell longevity?

    <p>Telomerase and ALT mechanisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the consequence of disabling pRB or p53 in cancer cells?

    <p>Cells continue to multiply indefinitely.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway?

    <p>Homologous recombination between chromosomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is essential for a tumor to progress beyond the microscopic stage?

    <p>Increased angiogenesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factors contribute to tissue invasion and metastasis in cancer cells?

    <p>Changes in cell-matrix adhesion proteins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do cancer cells exhibit insensitivity to antigrowth signals?

    <p>Through mutations that affect cell signaling.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which alteration is often associated with the emergence of cancer metastases?

    <p>Loss of E-cadherin function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process is characteristic of cells that have entered a state of crisis?

    <p>Karyotypic disarray.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common feature of cancer cells that results in their potential for limitless replication?

    <p>Increased telomerase expression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of telomere stabilization in cancer cells?

    <p>It enables continuous cell division without limits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following molecules is commonly lost, contributing to increased invasiveness in epithelial cancers?

    <p>E-cadherin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do extracellular proteases play in cancer invasion?

    <p>They facilitate tissue remodeling and allow cells to invade surrounding tissues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common mechanism through which cancer cells achieve self-sufficiency in growth signals?

    <p>Increased expression of growth factor receptors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do mutations in chromatin remodeling complexes affect cancer cells?

    <p>They correlate with the activation of the ALT pathway.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which condition must be met for a tumor to progress beyond the in situ stage?

    <p>Development of a vascular supply through angiogenesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic do most metastatic cancer cells share that aids in their spread to new locations?

    <p>Ability to utilize normal host cells for support.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the state called when cancer cells reach a point of karyotypic disarray?

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

    What cellular state is observed when normal cells replicate beyond a certain point due to pRB or p53 mutation?

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

    Which characteristic of cancer cells allows them to overcome limits on replication?

    <p>Immortal telomere maintenance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required for a tumor to grow larger than 1-2 mm³?

    <p>Sustained angiogenesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What alteration primarily aids cancer cells in invading surrounding tissues?

    <p>Increased production of extracellular proteases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a necessary change in cancer cells that supports their ability to metastasize?

    <p>Altered cell-ECM adhesion proteins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of cancer cells contributes to their self-sufficiency in growth signals?

    <p>Inability to respond to inhibitory signals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is commonly associated with the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway?

    <p>Mutations in chromatin remodeling complex ATRX/DAXX</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What signifies the crisis phase in cancer cell growth?

    <p>Karyotypic disarray</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Cancer Cell Properties

    • Normal cells stop dividing after ~50 doublings, entering senescence. Cancer cells continue multiplying until crisis, a stage of chromosome damage with cell death balancing growth, if pRB or p53 is disabled.
    • Cancer cells attain immortality by maintaining telomeres through telomerase or chromosomal recombination.
    • Senescence -> p53/pRB mutation -> crisis -> telomere stabilization.

    Alternative Immortality Pathway

    • ALT (Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres) is a telomerase-independent pathway used by some cancers to maintain telomeres through homologous recombination.
    • Mutations in chromatin remodeling complexes (ATRX/DAXX) and histone H3.3 are linked to the ALT pathway in some cancers.

    Cancer and Angiogenesis

    • Cells within 100 μm of a blood vessel receive oxygen and nutrients.
    • Tumors without angiogenesis are limited in growth (in situ tumor) at ~1-2 mm³.
    • Angiogenesis is regulated by soluble factors, receptor interactions with endothelial cells, and cell-matrix connections.

    Cancer Tissue Invasion and Metastasis

    • Cancer cells spread from their origin to new locations to access nutrients and space.
    • Metastatic cancer involves intermingling of cancer cells with supporting host tissue.
    • Most cancer deaths are from metastasis.
    • Metastasis involves:
      • activation of extracellular proteases
      • altered intercellular adhesion molecules (e.g., reduced E-cadherin in epithelial cancers).
      • altered extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion protein expression (e.g., integrin expression changes in carcinoma cells).

    Cancer Acquisition of Capabilities

    • Cancer cells demonstrate:
      • Self-sufficiency in growth signals.
      • Insensitivity to antigrowth signals.
      • Evasion of programmed cell death (apoptosis).
      • Potential for limitless replication.
      • Sustained angiogenesis.
      • Invasive and metastatic capabilities.
    • These characteristics enable cancer cells to survive, grow, and spread.
    • These abilities arise from mutations and epigenetic changes in gene expression.

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    Cancer Cell Properties PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on cancer cell properties, including senescence, immortality mechanisms, and angiogenesis. This quiz covers key concepts like telomere maintenance and the role of mutations in cancer progression.

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