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cancer genetics I
Stack #176333
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Malignancies are | clonal (derived from a single abnormal cell) |
Malignicies are Initiated by | change in cell’s DNA sequence (somatic mutation) |
Changes in DNA/gene expression result in | selective growth advantage for some cells |
A single genetic alteration is usually | not enough |
genes involved in cancer process | Proteins in signaling pathways for cell proliferation |
genes involved in cancer process | Cytoskeletal components involved in contact inhibition |
genes involved in cancer process | Regulators of the mitotic cycle |
genes involved in cancer process | Components of programmed cell death machinery |
genes involved in cancer process | Proteins involved in detecting and repairing mutations |
Different mutations cause cancer | Activating gain-of-function mutations in one allele of proto-oncogene, Loss of function of both alleles of tumor suppressor gene, Chromosomal translocations that cause misexpression of genes or create chimeric, genes with altered or new function |
Different types of mutations cause cancer | Activating gain-of-function mutations in one allele of proto-oncogene |
Different types of mutations cause cancer | Loss of function of both alleles of tumor-suppressor gene |
Different types of mutations cause cancer | Chromosomal translocations that cause misexpression of genes or create chimeric genes with altered or new function |
Cytogenetic abnormalities are common in cancer | Random rearrangements/aneuploidy/loss; Specific translocations are associated with specific cancers; loss of specific chromosomes |
Chromosomal translocations and proto-oncogenes | Translocations lead to disruption and rearrangement of genes and their regulating elements; Chimeric (fusion) genes to chimeric proteins; New “gain of function” for proto-oncogene corresponds to activation/deregulation |
Burkitt lymphoma | B-cell tumor, Translocation; positioning of MYC proto-oncogene near actively transcribed immunoglobulin heavy chain gene; MYC activation/deregulation; Lymphomatous transformation |
Chronic myelogenous leukemia and the Philadelphia chromosome | Involves translocation and Fusion of (ABL) proto-oncogene to BCR gene; Chimeric BCR-ABL; altered protein kinase expression and function of (ABL) oncogene |
Tumor supressor genes | prevent tumor development, loss of function leass to cancer |
gatekeepers | regulate cell growth |
caretakers | genes involved in repairing DNA damage and maintaining genomic integrity (mismatch repair genes) |
Mechanisms which lead to loss of function | point mutation in TS gene; deletion of TS gene and surrounding chromosomal material; other structural rearrangements epigenetic events |
epigenetic events | transcriptional silencing, alterations in DNA methylation and chromatin configuration |
In Tumor suppressor genes | recessive in the cell (both copies of tumor suppressor gene must be mutated to see initiation of malignancy) |
Tumor suppressor genes | loss of function may occur in germline or somatic tissue |
germline mutation confers | autosomal dominant predisposition to malignancy (familial cancer syndrome) |
Tumor suppressor genes Examples | Breast/ovarian – BRCA1/2 and Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) |
Two-Hit Origin of Cancer | Basis for both hereditary & sporadic cancers; Involves loss of tumor suppressor function; Retinoblastoma (RB) as the model; Loss of both copies of RB1 gene leads to tumor |
Retinoblastoma (RB) as the model for two hit origin of cancer | Sporadic cases - 2 somatic mutations same cell; Hereditary cases - inherited (germline) mutation (first hit); second somatic mutation in same cell (second hit) |
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) | Molecular evidence for the existence of a tumor suppressor gene; Involves analysis of DNA polymorphisms near tumor suppressor gene; Testing is done on tumor tissue |
Loss of RB1 gene function without loss of heterozygosity seen with | point mutations, gene conversion, transcriptional silencing |