Download The Biology of Cancer

The Biology of
• includes ____________ different diseases
What is a tumor (“neoplasm”)?
What makes cancer cells unique?
a. Uncontrolled ___________________________
b. Lacks _______________________________________
c. May break away from other cells (metastasize)
d. Structural changes
What is a Benign tumor?
-an abnormal growth that is ________ _______________
and does _______ ________________ to other areas of the
body.
Example: Warts
e. Loses normal function
What are carcinogens?
What is cancer?
What is a Malignant tumor?
-uncontrolled dividing cells that invade and destroy healthy
tissues. Malignant tumors
____________________________________ to other parts
of the body and are therefore considered
________________________.
What are the two ways in which malignant tumors differ
from benign? Malignant tumors:
a. invade surrounding tissue
b. spread to other systems of the body
Examples:
-_________________________________ (including U.V.)
-Certain chemicals or irritants (including those found in
cigarettes...)
-_________________________________ (ex: HPV and
cervical cancer; Epstein-Barr and Burkitt’s Lymphoma)
What is an oncogene?
_________________________: normal, healthy genes that
regulate cell growth, cell division, and the ability of the cell
to adhere (“stick”) to other cells.
A mutation in a _________________________may
cause it to become an oncogene (cancer causing)
_____________________________________________:
prevent uncontrolled cell division
A mutation in a tumor suppressor gene leads to a
predisposition to cancer.
However, it appears to take more than one mutated gene
(_____________) for a normal cell to become a cancer
cell...
Tumor Suppressor Example…
•_________: “The Guardian Angel” Gene
Telomeres
 Highly repetitive DNA on the
______________________________________________
 Protect chromosomes from damage
 Get ___________________________________ with
each cell division
 Healthy cells can only divide approx
_________________ times (Hayflick Limit) before the
Monitors DNA during the G1 phase of the cell cycle
telomeres become too short and the cell stops dividing
If damage is detected-
(________________________) and dies (apoptosis)

Telomerase
 Enzyme that protects the telomeres and allows cell
division to continue (appears to prevent senescence)
 Most cells inhibit telomerase production


OR
o ____________________________________
divide often and do NOT inhibit telomerase

p53 is missing or badly damaged in most cancer cells
Cigarette smoke ---> p53 damage
(p53 damage found in ___________ of lung cancer)
Hmmm… what if we add the p53 protein to cancer cells?
 Prevents ____________________________ because
cells can divide only a finite number of times
Cancer: Almost ______ cases involve a mutation of the
telomerase inhibitor
Cure: __________________________________________
Kids with ______________________ have short telomeres.