Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of immunotherapy in cancer treatment?
What is the primary function of immunotherapy in cancer treatment?
Which of the following is NOT a step in the development of metastatic cancer?
Which of the following is NOT a step in the development of metastatic cancer?
How do cytotoxic T-cells primarily eliminate infected cells?
How do cytotoxic T-cells primarily eliminate infected cells?
What is the primary role of regulatory T-cells?
What is the primary role of regulatory T-cells?
Signup and view all the answers
What experimental evidence suggests that the immune system regulates tumorigenesis?
What experimental evidence suggests that the immune system regulates tumorigenesis?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in cancer?
What is the significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in cancer?
Signup and view all the answers
Why might immune recognition of tumors often be a late step in oncogenesis?
Why might immune recognition of tumors often be a late step in oncogenesis?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a mechanism by which tumor cells can evade the immune system?
Which of the following is NOT a mechanism by which tumor cells can evade the immune system?
Signup and view all the answers
What describes the basal lamina in relation to epithelial tissues?
What describes the basal lamina in relation to epithelial tissues?
Signup and view all the answers
How does tumor size impact the likelihood of metastasis?
How does tumor size impact the likelihood of metastasis?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)?
What is the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do Snail and Twist genes play in cancer progression?
What role do Snail and Twist genes play in cancer progression?
Signup and view all the answers
How do cancer cells manipulate healthy cells during metastasis?
How do cancer cells manipulate healthy cells during metastasis?
Signup and view all the answers
What are matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) primarily responsible for?
What are matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) primarily responsible for?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of breaching the basal lamina in cancer development?
What is the significance of breaching the basal lamina in cancer development?
Signup and view all the answers
How do stromal cells aid in cancer progression?
How do stromal cells aid in cancer progression?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the function of PDGF in tumor development?
What is the function of PDGF in tumor development?
Signup and view all the answers
What is anoikis?
What is anoikis?
Signup and view all the answers
Why does inhibiting VEGF inhibit tumor progression?
Why does inhibiting VEGF inhibit tumor progression?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of tumor vasculature that distinguishes it from normal vasculature?
What is a characteristic of tumor vasculature that distinguishes it from normal vasculature?
Signup and view all the answers
What is Avastin (bevacizumab)?
What is Avastin (bevacizumab)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main concern about prostate cancer screening?
What is the main concern about prostate cancer screening?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary cause of death in most cancer patients?
What is the primary cause of death in most cancer patients?
Signup and view all the answers
How does Hepatitis C increase the risk of liver cancer?
How does Hepatitis C increase the risk of liver cancer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in cancer?
What is the significance of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in cancer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is genomic instability?
What is genomic instability?
Signup and view all the answers
How are stem cells protected from genomic instability?
How are stem cells protected from genomic instability?
Signup and view all the answers
What is depurination?
What is depurination?
Signup and view all the answers
How can oxidative species contribute to cancer development?
How can oxidative species contribute to cancer development?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the AMES test used for?
What is the AMES test used for?
Signup and view all the answers
What is loss of heterozygosity (LOH)?
What is loss of heterozygosity (LOH)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of the lungs being highly vascularized regarding metastatic cells?
What is the significance of the lungs being highly vascularized regarding metastatic cells?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes extravasation?
Which of the following best describes extravasation?
Signup and view all the answers
What do micrometastases represent in cancer progression?
What do micrometastases represent in cancer progression?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement best describes the 'seed and soil' model of metastasis?
Which statement best describes the 'seed and soil' model of metastasis?
Signup and view all the answers
Why are bones frequently targeted by metastatic cancer cells?
Why are bones frequently targeted by metastatic cancer cells?
Signup and view all the answers
What was a key finding from Peyton Rous's discovery of the Rous Sarcoma Virus?
What was a key finding from Peyton Rous's discovery of the Rous Sarcoma Virus?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one significant challenge cancer cells encounter in the bloodstream?
What is one significant challenge cancer cells encounter in the bloodstream?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does the immune system play in the survival of cancer cells in the lungs?
What role does the immune system play in the survival of cancer cells in the lungs?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Immunotherapy and Cancer Treatment
- The primary function of immunotherapy in cancer treatment is to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
Metastatic Cancer
- Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites.
- In order for cancer to metastasize, it must acquire a blood supply, escape from apoptosis, and have a reduced ability to adhere to adjacent cells (a loss of cell adhesion).
The Immune System's Role in Cancer
- Cytotoxic T-cells are a type of immune cell that eliminates infected cells by inducing apoptosis.
- Regulatory T-cells help to keep the immune system from reacting to normal cells and tissues by suppressing cytotoxic T-cells.
- Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can either help or attack a tumor.
Tumor Evasion of the Immune System
- Tumors are able to evade the immune system by hiding their identity from immune cells, avoiding apoptosis, and inducing apoptosis in immune cells.
Stromal Cells and Cancer Progression
- Stromal cells are cells found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues.
- Stromal cells contribute to cancer progression by suppressing the immune response and releasing growth factors that stimulate tumor growth.
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a growth factor that attracts fibroblasts, which produce ECM.
Angiogenesis
- The formation of new blood vessels to support tumor growth is called angiogenesis.
- Tumor cells secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into the surrounding ECM, which then stimulates the growth of blood vessels.
- VEGF binds to receptors on endothelial cells, triggering a cascade of cellular responses.
Avastin (Bevacizumab)
- Avastin is a humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF.
- Binding VEGF blocks its ability to stimulate the growth of blood vessels.
Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate cancer screening is controversial as it may lead to the diagnosis and treatment of cancers that would not have caused harm.
The Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)
- EMT is a process that occurs normally during wound healing and development.
- In cancer, EMT allows epithelial cells to lose their cell-cell adhesion and gain migratory and invasive properties, allowing the cancer cells to become metastatic.
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs)
- MMPs are enzymes that degrade the ECM, facilitating tumor cell invasion.
The "Seed and Soil" Model of Metastasis
- The "seed and soil" model of metastasis suggests that cancer cells (seeds) will only grow in a suitable environment (soil).
Viruses and Cancer
- The discovery of the Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) provided the first experimental evidence that a virus could cause cancer.
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Cancer and Genetics
- Mutations in the tumor suppressor genes TP53, APC, and RB1 are frequently found in cancer.
- Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes significantly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.
Genomic Instability
- Genomic instability is an increased tendency for mutations and chromosomal abnormalities to occur in cells.
- Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer cells and can be caused by a variety of factors, including environmental exposures and intrinsic cellular mechanisms.
AMES Test
- The AMES test is used to identify potential carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
- It uses a strain of bacteria that is defective in a gene required for histidine synthesis.
Loss of Heterozygosity (LOH)
- Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is the loss of one copy of a gene, which can be a tumor suppressor gene.
- LOH can occur as a result of mutations or deletions.
Oxidative Species and Cancer Development
- Oxidative species are reactive molecules that contain oxygen.
- Oxidative species can damage DNA and contribute to cancer development.
Environmental Exposures and Cancer
- Environmental exposures such as smoking, air pollution, and radiation can contribute to cancer development.
- Substances that are known to cause cancer in humans or animals are called carcinogens.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the critical role of immunotherapy in cancer treatment through the understanding of the immune system's interaction with cancer cells. This quiz highlights processes such as metastasis, immune evasion, and the functions of immune cells in combating tumors. Test your knowledge on cancer immunology and the mechanisms involved in modern cancer therapies.