Exam 3 - DNA mutations and cancer (27)

what are the 2 ways tumor suppressor genes can be inactivated

1. genetic gene inactivation
2. epigenetic gene inactivation

what varies between patients with tumor suppressor cancer

location of the mutation

what are benign tumors

non-cancerous tumors

what are malignant tumors (3)

1. invasive
2. cancerous
3. metastasize - spread to other parts of body

what is metastasis

when cancer cells detatch from og tumor and spread to other tissues

what are the 4 stages of cancer development

1. inactivation of first tumor suppressor gene (normal)
2. activation of oncogene (benign tumor)
3. inactivation of second tumor suppressor gene (malignant)
4. inactivation of third tumor suppressor gene (metastatic)

what is the two-hit hypothesis for tumor suppressor genes

both copies of the tumor suppressor gene need to be mutated in order for loss-of-function that causes cancer

can epigenetic changes be inherited?

YES

do you expect there to be more variability within genes that cause LOF in tumor suppressors or gain in function for proto-oncogenes --> oncogenes

LOF in tumor suppressor genes

what would happen if cells were deficient in nucleotide repair enzymes

dna would not be repaired and cells would aquire mutations