Tissue Engineering and Cancer Biology Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a characteristic of injectable stem cells?

They are more invasive than other methods.

They allow for controlled growth factor release. (correct)

They can only grow in one shape.

They require a surgical implant.

Which of the following materials is not classified as a polymer used in tissue engineering?

Matrigel

Collagen

Hydroxyapatite (correct)

Fibrin

What does solid scaffold manufacturing utilize for accuracy?

Drawing templates.

Manual sketching techniques.

3D printing with standard materials.

Computer-aided design. (correct)

What innovative approach have researchers used to address the regeneration of human tissues and organs?

Growing heart tissue on spinach leaves. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common material used in the creation of decellularized matrices?

Fibrin Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes cancer at a cellular level?

Unregulated cell growth and spread to other sites Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cancer originates from epithelial cells?

Adenocarcinoma Signup and view all the answers

What role do mutagens play in the development of cancer?

They cause alterations to the DNA sequence. Signup and view all the answers

What type of mutations primarily lead to cancer development?

Somatic mutations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT classified as a carcinogen?

Physical exercise Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cancer is specifically associated with mesoderm cells?

Sarcomas Signup and view all the answers

What is a major difference between cancer and other genetic diseases?

Cancer mutations are primarily somatic. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic differentiates skin cancer from lung cancer?

Specific genetic mutations Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant disadvantage of using retroviruses in gene therapy?

They cannot infect non-dividing cells. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic makes adenoviruses advantageous for gene therapy?

They are efficient at transferring genes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about liposomes in gene therapy?

They can carry large DNA molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is the method used to identify cancer stem cells (CSCs) mentioned in the content?

Spheroid colony formation Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using adenoviruses for gene therapy?

They can trigger an immune response. Signup and view all the answers

Which vector is exclusively used in ex vivo therapy?

Retroviruses Signup and view all the answers

Which surface marker is specifically known as prominin-1?

CD133 Signup and view all the answers

What is a common disadvantage associated with liposomes in gene therapy?

They have inefficient gene transfer. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the roles of CD44 as described in the content?

Binding to the extracellular matrix Signup and view all the answers

How do retroviruses achieve stable modification of target cells?

By integrating their genome into the host chromosome. Signup and view all the answers

Which intracellular marker is NOT mentioned as a marker for cancer stem cells?

p53 Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation of using cellular markers for isolating cancer stem cells?

The number of isolated cells is limited Signup and view all the answers

Which gene therapy vector does not facilitate uncontrolled integration and has non-integration to the chromosome as an advantage?

Adenoviruses Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a role of EpCAM as stated in the content?

Supporting cell migration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of immature cells in culture?

Die in cell culture Signup and view all the answers

Which protein is associated with oncogenic potential as mentioned in the content?

EpCAM Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the therapy have on the immune system?

The therapy partially restored the immune system. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of ammonia accumulation in the blood for individuals with Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency?

Toxicity that particularly affects the nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

Why were all gene therapy trials using retroviral vectors in blood stem cells halted by the FDA in 2003?

Patients developed leukemia-like conditions. Signup and view all the answers

For what condition was the stem cell gene therapy Strimvelis designed?

Adenosine deaminase deficiency. Signup and view all the answers

Which therapeutic gene-targeting strategy can be utilized against HIV?

Targeting CCR5 and CD4. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of gene therapy in blood cells was demonstrated by the prior study treating bubble baby syndrome?

It highlighted risks such as developing leukemia. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the nature of the enzyme production in the mentioned gene therapy?

The enzyme production was temporarily stimulated. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following diseases can be potentially treated using similar therapeutic strategies as mentioned?

HIV. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of tissue engineering?

To assemble constructs that restore or improve damaged tissues Signup and view all the answers

Which type of artificial tissue has been approved by the FDA for limited use in human patients?

Engineered skin and cartilage Signup and view all the answers

What challenge has hindered the expansion of cells in tissue engineering?

Inability to expand cells in vitro Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a component of tissue engineering?

Vascular networks Signup and view all the answers

What materials have been used to create artificial skin in successful medical applications?

Cowhide, shark cartilage, and plastic Signup and view all the answers

What is a major factor that has limited clinical advancements in regenerative medicine?

Inadequate vascularity of engineered tissues Signup and view all the answers

For how long has tissue engineering been a field of research?

Over 70 years Signup and view all the answers

Why was it difficult to expand most human cells in vitro during the early 1990s?

Technological limitations in culture techniques Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stem Cells in Gene Therapy/Gene Editing

Cell/gene therapy is a branch of Regenerative Medicine focused on replacing, engineering, or regenerating human cells, tissues, or organs to restore normal function.
Gene therapy delivers therapeutic genes into a patient's cells to treat disease.
Cell therapy delivers intact, living cells into a patient to treat disease.
Combination cell/gene therapy approaches aim to insert genes into a patient's own cells to control diseases, and are now in clinical trials.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is an experimental technique using genes to treat or prevent diseases.
Future approaches may involve inserting genes into patient cells instead of drugs or surgery.
Several gene therapy approaches are being researched, including:
- Replacing mutated disease-causing genes with healthy copies.
- Inactivating, or "knocking out," mutated genes that function improperly.
- Introducing a new gene to fight a disease.
Although promising, gene therapy is still risky and under study for safety and effectiveness.
Current gene therapy trials are focused on diseases with no other known cures.

Different Routes of Gene Therapy

Ex vivo approach:
- Target cells are removed from the body and grown in a lab (in vitro).
- Genes are introduced into the cultured cells.
- The modified cells are returned to the patient.
- Examples: fibroblasts, hematopoietic cells, stem cells
In vivo approach (Direct Gene Transfer):
- Genes are introduced directly into affected tissue of the body without removing cells.
- Special delivery vehicles are typically required for gene transfer
- Examples: lungs, brain

Ex Vivo and In Vivo Gene Therapies

Ex vivo gene therapy is often used with blood cells (lymphocytes or hematopoietic stem cells) for conditions affecting the hematopoietic system.
In vivo gene therapy is used in cancer treatment using oncolytic adenoviruses, and in muscular dystrophy or hemophilia treatment with adeno-associated vectors. In other instances, non-viral vectors are used since they are not oncogenic.

Ex Vivo Gene Therapy: Putting Functional Genes Into Marrow Stem Cells

This approach involves removing stem cells from the patients bone marrow or blood, modifying them in a lab, and then reintroducing them to the patient.

Methods of Gene Delivery

Physical methods:
- Parenteral injection
- Microinjection
- Aerosol
- Gene gun
Chemical methods:
- Calcium phosphate
- DEAE-Dextran
- Liposomes
Biological methods:
- Viral vectors (retrovirus, adenovirus, HSV)

Common Vectors Used For Gene Therapy

Retroviruses:
- Used in ex vivo therapy only.
- Advantages: chromosomal integration and stable modification of target cells.
- Disadvantages: uncontrolled integration, potential oncogenicity, and inability to infect non-dividing cells.
Adenoviruses:
- Second most common delivery system, which can be produced in large quantities in cultures.
- Advantages: infect non-dividing cells, non-integration.
- Disadvantages: transient expression due to episomal integration and may provoke an immune response.
Liposomes:
- Lipid bilayers surrounding an aqueous vesicle that can carry large DNA.
- Advantages: safer than viral vectors, can carry large DNA molecules.
- Disadvantages: inefficient and transient gene transfer.

Somatic Cell Therapy

Gene insertion into somatic cells (fibroblasts, myoblasts, epithelial cells, etc.)
Corrects the genetic defect in the patient; However the change is not inheritable.

Germ Line Therapy

Introducing the foreign gene into germ cells (sperm, ovum, fertilized egg)
Modifies features in both somatic and germ cells (heritable changes).
Considered unethical and not advocated in current use.

History of Gene Therapy

Early clinical trials started in the 1980s and a patient died in a 1990s trial.
The first report of a human gene therapy trial involving stem cells started in the 1990s involving treatment of a rare inherited genetic disease.
In 2003, FDA halted trials using retroviral vectors in blood stem cells.

Some Targets for Gene Therapy

Gene therapy can be used to treat/prevent diseases such as cancer or genetic disorders. Infections are also being targeted.

Gene Therapy in Blood Cells (Hematopoietic Stem Cells)

Blood stem cells are a target for gene therapies that can treat various conditions of the hematopoietic system, and often using ex vivo approaches.

Somatic Cell Therapy History

The first human gene transfer using stem cells was performed in 1990.

Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering is a field that combines scaffolds, cells, and biologically active molecules to create functional tissues.
The goal is to restore, maintain, or improve damaged tissues and organs.
Examples include artificial skin and cartilage, but clinical applications are frequently limited.

Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine focuses on enabling the body to heal itself through tissue engineering, and cell therapy and regeneration.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the intersection of tissue engineering and cancer biology. This quiz covers various concepts such as stem cells, materials used in tissue scaffolding, and the cellular characteristics of cancer. Challenge yourself with questions regarding innovative approaches in regeneration and the role of mutations in cancer development.