Molecular Basis of Cancer
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of prevention in cancer?

  • Treatment of initial diagnosis
  • Monitoring of molecular findings
  • Early detection of precursor lesions
  • Avoidance of risk factors (correct)

    • What is the role of molecular oncology in diagnosis?

  • Treatment of cancer
  • Initial diagnosis of cancer
  • Classification and monitoring of cancer (correct)
  • Screening for precursor lesions

    • What is the effect of mutations in oncogenes on cell growth?

  • No effect on cell growth
  • Reduced cell growth in absence of growth factors
  • Allows for excessive cell growth in absence of growth factors (correct)
  • Uncontrolled cell growth in presence of growth factors

    • What is an example of a growth factor receptor oncogene?

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

    What is the term for the protein encoded by an oncogene?

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

    What was the focus of the TCGA study on head and neck squamous cell carcinomas?

    <p>Sequencing of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the normal function of the gene product that is inactivated by mutations?

    <p>Stopping excessive cell growth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many mutations are usually required to inactivate a tumor suppressor gene?

    <p>Two mutations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the tumor suppressor gene TP53?

    <p>Stopping cell division in response to DNA damage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of DNA damage that is not repaired properly?

    <p>Genomic instability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the normal response of normal cells to internal or external signals?

    <p>Programmed cell death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do tumor cells resist cellular death?

    <p>Through mutations in the programmed cell death signaling pathway</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of tumor suppressor genes such as BRCA1 and MLH1?

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

    What is the result of the loss of tumor suppressor gene RB?

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

    What is the primary difference in energy metabolism between normal cells and cancer cells?

    <p>Normal cells use oxidative phosphorylation, while cancer cells use aerobic glycolysis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using radiolabeled glucose in PET scans?

    <p>To visualize tumor metastases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the phenomenon where cancer cells exhibit high glucose uptake and aerobic glycolysis?

    <p>Warburg effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the energy yield of aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells?

    <p>2 ATP</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Krebs cycle in normal cells?

    <p>To generate ATP for cellular processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference in glucose metabolism between normal cells and stem cells?

    <p>Stem cells and normal cells have similar glucose metabolism pathways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of oncogenes in cancer cell proliferation?

    <p>They drive increased cancer cell proliferation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the Warburg effect in cancer metabolism?

    <p>It is a hallmark of cancer cell metabolism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary target of standard cytotoxic chemotherapy?

    <p>All rapidly growing cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the advantage of molecularly targeted therapy compared to standard cytotoxic chemotherapy?

    <p>Fewer side effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary mechanism of action of cetuximab?

    <p>Inhibiting EGFR</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which patient group may benefit more from EGFR-targeted therapy?

    <p>HPV-negative patients</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of using EGFR-targeted therapy in HPV-positive HNSCC?

    <p>Inferior to cisplatin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason why we don't all develop tumors?

    <p>Cells have robust mechanisms to repair genetic lesions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of molecular knowledge in molecularly targeted therapy?

    <p>Identifying molecular changes in tumor cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary advantage of consulting the NCCN guidelines?

    <p>They are updated regularly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the process by which a growing tumor induces its own blood supply?

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

    What is the consequence of mutations in tumor suppressor genes?

    <p>Promoting cancer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of genes are responsible for regulating programmed cell death?

    <p>Genes regulating programmed cell death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe genetic mutations that affect cell cycle regulation and lead to neoplasia?

    <p>Driver mutations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between proto-oncogenes and oncogenes?

    <p>Oncogenes are mutated, while proto-oncogenes are not</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the process by which the immune system recognizes and clears abnormal cells?

    <p>Immune surveillance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of genetic lesions can lead to cancer?

    <p>Both DNA mutations and epigenetic changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the 10 key characteristics of cancer cells?

    <p>Hallmarks of cancer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Molecular Basis of Cancer

    • Cancer arises from genetic lesions that affect cell cycle regulation, leading to increased cell proliferation and survival.
    • The immune system clears most abnormal cells, but mutations can create "neo-epitopes" recognized by the immune system.
    • Growing tumors must induce blood supply (angiogenesis) to exceed 1-2mm in size.

    Risk Factors

    • Exposure to radiation, chemicals/toxins/alcohol, and viruses
    • Reproductive history, inflammation, immunodeficiency, hereditary, and age
    • Geographic factors, including local differences, culture, and health disparities

    Genetic Lesions

    • Genetic damage can occur in DNA or epigenetic (DNA methylation or chromatin changes)
    • Targets of genetic damage include growth regulatory genes, tumor suppressor genes, genes regulating programmed cell death, and DNA repair genes

    Oncogenes and Proto-Oncogenes

    • Oncogenes are genes that promote cell growth and proliferation when mutated
    • Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that can become oncogenes when mutated
    • Examples of oncogenes include PDGFB, PDGFBR, KRAS, MYC, and CDK4

    Oncoproteins

    • Oncoproteins are proteins encoded by oncogenes
    • Mutations in oncogenes create constitutionally active versions of gene products that promote excessive cell growth

    Tumor Suppressor Genes

    • Mutations in tumor suppressor genes inactivate gene products that normally stop excessive cell growth
    • Examples of tumor suppressor genes include p16, RB, TP53, CDH1, BRCA1, and MLH1
    • Loss of tumor suppressor RB can lead to retinoblastoma

    Cellular Alterations

    • 10 hallmarks of cancer include:
      • Self-sufficiency in growth signals
      • Insensitivity to anti-growth signals
      • Tissue invasion and metastasis
      • Limitless replicative potential
      • Evading apoptosis
      • Sustained angiogenesis
      • Tissue inflammation
      • Evading immune surveillance
      • Deregulating cellular energetics
      • Genomic instability and mutation

    Cancer Treatment

    • Molecularly targeted therapy can be more effective than standard cytotoxic chemotherapy
    • Examples of targeted therapy include EGFR inhibitors like cetuximab
    • NCCN guidelines provide guidance on therapy for head and neck cancers

    Head and Neck Cancer

    • TCGA study sequencing of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas identified potential oncogenes
    • EGFR is often overexpressed in head and neck cancer
    • HPV-negative patients may benefit from EGFR-targeted therapy

    Cellular Death

    • Tumor cells resist cellular death by mutations in the programmed cell death signaling pathway
    • Normal cells respond to internal or external signals for programmed cell death

    Cellular Energetics

    • Cancer cells use aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) to generate energy for rapid growth
    • PET scans use radiolabeled glucose to track tumor metastases

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    Description

    Learn about the differences between proto-oncogenes and oncogenes, oncoproteins, and the 10 hallmarks of cancer. Understand the risk factors and epidemiology of cancer.

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