Cell Biology- Oncology

Carcinoma

Cancer that begins in the epithelial tissue

Sarcoma

Cancer that begins in connective tissue

Genetic Instability

Certain mutations or epigenetic modifications lead to accumulation of additional genetic alterations

Cancer cell chromosomes

They’ve almost always got fucked up chromosomes

Hallmarks of Cancerous Growth (there are 6)

1. Altered tissue homeostasis

2. Bypass of normal limits on cell division

3. Evade cell death signals

4. Altered metabolism

5. Manipulation of surrounding tissue

6. Escape from originating tissue

Cancer Cell Telomeres

Overexpression of telomerase to bypass cell apoptosis signaling

p53

A protein that drives expression of proteins that promote cell cycle arrest or apoptosis

What happens if p53 loses its function?

Unable to promote cell cycle arrest of apoptosis, which is an essential step in tumor formation

Warburg Effect

Cancer cells rely more on glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen, so they import a ton of glucose and can survive in many environments

Positron Emission Tophography (PET) scan

Uses fluorescent glucose to see where tissues are taking in abnormal amounts of glucose (aka where cancer is)

Stroma

Tissue surrounding cells that are manipulated into supporting the tumor

Cancer drivers

Genes that cause cancer progression

Cancer-Critical Genes

Genes that, when altered, influence cancer progression

Proto-oncogene

Encodes a protein that promotes cancer progression when activated/over-expressed (at which point it becomes an oncogene).

Tumor Suppressor Gene