Lecture 1

Question 1

Retroviruses are used to isolate __

Answer 1

potent oncogenes

Question 2

Transcription factors are often regulated by __

Answer 2

phosphorylation

Question 3

True or False: All tumour suppressor proteins are transcription factors.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Two major tumour suppressor proteins

Answer 4

• p53
• Retinoblastoma (Rb) protein

Question 5

What is cancer?

Answer 5

A group of heterogeneous pathologic states in which cells multiply abnormally and invade surrounding tissues

Question 6

Do cancer cells have a higher rate of mutation than normal cells?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

Main difference between benign and malignant tumours

Answer 7

Malignant tumours have the ability to invade surrounding tissues and metastasise to organs via the circulatory system. Benign tumours do not have this ability.

Question 8

Breast cancer most often spreads to __

Answer 8

bone

Question 9

Lung cancer most often spreads to __

Answer 9

brain

Question 10

What percentage of patients presenting in the clinic with cancer already have metastases?

Answer 10

~50%

Question 11

What are oncogenes?

Answer 11

Genes capable of inducing neoplastic phenotype

Question 12

Examples of benign tumours

Answer 12

• skin warts
• polyps (common in GIT)
• uterine fibroids

Question 13

Examples of malignant tumours

Answer 13

• carcinoma
• sarcoma
• leukaemia
• lymphoma

Question 14

How many different human cancers are there (categorised based on tissue type)?

Answer 14

~100

Question 15

Tumour cells descend from…

Answer 15

a single progenitor cell

Question 16

Why are cancer cell lines easy to use in the lab?

Answer 16

because they are immortal

Question 17

What is the main enzyme that facilitates immortality of cancer cells?

Answer 17

Telomerase (important anti-cancer drug target)

Question 18

Key changes that occur in the progression of tumours

Answer 18

• immortality
• angiogenic ability
• migratory abilities

Question 19

2 examples of very aggressive cancers that are difficult to treat

Answer 19

• Pancreatic cancer (due to its location & activation of Ras oncogenes)
• Mesothelioma (rare lung cancer, clear association with asbestos)

Question 20

__ account for 80-90% of all cancer cases

Answer 20

Carcinomas (malignancies of epithelial tissue)

Question 21

What is crucial in the study of oncology?

Answer 21

Understanding control/regulation of cell growth

Question 22

What is a common site for metastasis?

Answer 22

Liver