Lecture 5: Cancer and Development

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What is the main mechanism by which classic chemotherapy agents function?

Affecting DNA machinery or being nucleotide analogs or affecting cytoskeleton (correct)

Stimulating the immune system

Inducing apoptosis in cancer cells

Inhibiting cell migration

Why do children experience more severe side effects from chemotherapy?

Because their immune system is more compromised

Because their cells are more sensitive to chemotherapy

Because their cytoskeleton is more fragile

Because they have more dividing cells (correct)

What is the primary cause of Medulloblastoma?

Mutations in the TP53 gene

Abnormal regulation of GCP proliferation (correct)

Overexpression of the MYC gene

Deletions in the CDKN2A gene

What percentage of Medulloblastomas are caused by mutations in the SHH pathway?

25% Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common symptom of Medulloblastoma?

Defects in motor coordination and balance Signup and view all the answers

At what age are most Medulloblastomas diagnosed?

Before the age of 10 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary diagnostic tool used for Medulloblastoma?

MRI Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the cytoskeleton in cell division?

To separate cells during mitosis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of chemotherapy agents?

Stimulating the immune system Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of brain tumors are Medulloblastomas?

It is the most common brain tumor in children Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the gene that is often mutated in Basal cell carcinoma and Medulloblastoma?

SHH Signup and view all the answers

What is the prognosis of children with medulloblastoma 5 years after diagnosis?

60% of children are disease-free Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a heterozygous knockout of the Ptc gene in mice?

The tumour grows rapidly and pushes the cerebellum downward Signup and view all the answers

Why do only 50% of mice with a heterozygous Ptc knockout develop medulloblastoma?

Because the other 50% have a random mutation that prevents tumour growth Signup and view all the answers

What technique is used to study a few cells at a time in the Ptc-/+ mouse model?

Laser capture microdissection Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of loss of heterozygosity of the Ptc gene in granule cell precursors?

Loss of expression of the Ptc gene Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Shh pathway in medulloblastoma?

It promotes tumour growth Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of suppressing the Shh pathway on medulloblastoma formation?

It eliminates medulloblastoma formation Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of inhibiting the Hedgehog pathway in young mice?

It causes permanent defects in bone structure Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between Gorlin syndrome and basal cell carcinoma?

Gorlin syndrome increases the risk of basal cell carcinoma Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of GDC-0449 therapy on patients with basal cell carcinoma?

It slows down tumour growth Signup and view all the answers