BIOL 4610: Tumorigenesis and Cancer Treatment

Carcinomas

Originate from the epithelial cells

Sarcomas

Originate from connective tissue cells

Leukemias

Originate from blood cells

Lymphomas

Most commonly originate from B-cells involved in the secondary immune response

Cancer origin:

A cell acquires a mutation that promotes uncontrolled cell growth and division

Oncogenic event

A mutation that sets a cell down the path of becoming cancerous

Types of mutations:

• The mutation stimulates cell growth and division, even in the absence of correct cues

• The mutation impairs the cell’s ability to repair DNA damage

Mutations that lead to an __ result in cells that ivide even without a cue

Overactive PKC

TFIIH

Recognizes DNA damage and begins the process of DNA repair

Mutations that lead to a defective __ result in extreme sensitivity to sunlight and increased cancer risk

TFIIH

Cytotoxic T-Cells

Able to recognize cancer cells because the cancer cells produce strange proteins

Using an MHC receptor, cancer cells display fragments of this protein __

Neoantigen

Cytotoxic T-cells contain __ that are activated when bound to the neoantigens

T-Cell Receptors

When TCR/neoantigen binds, the T-cells will __

Signal the cancer cells to kill themselves

Microenvironment

Consists of all the cell types, and the products those cells make, that supports the tumor

Metastasis

A tumor releases cells into the bloodstream that have the ability to form new tumors elsewhere in the body

When tumors have their own microenvironments, __

They are hard to get rid of

Chemotherapy

• Are microtubule destabilizing chemicals

• Halt cancer progression and even kill cancer cells

• Prevent cancer cells from dividing rapidly

Radiation

• Additional DNA damage caused by this can be fatal to cancer cells

• Targeted sessions minimize side effects, but non cancer cells still get damaged

CAR T cell

Built to recognize proteins identified on the surface of certain cancer cell types and kill the cancer cell in response

CAR T cells are an advantage because:

If we know the specific protein on the tumor surface, a CAR T cell can be designed to kill it.