Introduction to Cell Biology and Cancer Biology

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core terms, cancer classifications, genetic concepts, cellular behaviors, and tumor progression from the Chapter 1-6 introductory lecture.

Cancerous Phenotype

The observable physical characteristics resulting from cellular overgrowth and tumor formation.

Stage 0 / Stage 1 Tumor

An early-stage tumor consisting of overproducing cells native to the tissue that has no additional blood supply.

Stage 2 / Stage 3 Tumor

A tumor stage characterized by vascularization, where the tumor acquires its own blood supply to support rapid cell growth.

Metastatic (Stage 4) Tumor

An advanced stage tumor that sheds cells that travel through the lymphatic system, vascular system, or body cavities to spread to other organs.

Epithelial Cells

Regularly shaped, rectangular cells tightly packed with adhesions that form linings such as the intestinal, breast duct, and colon linings.

Mesenchymal Cells

Irregularly shaped, spongy cells with extensive extracellular connections that form structure inside organs and bones.

Carcinoma

A sheet-like, invasive tumor originating from mutated, overgrown epithelial cells.

Sarcoma

A globular, ball-like tumor originating from mutated, overgrown mesenchymal cells.

Liquid Tumors

Cancers originating from the overgrowth of blood cells, such as leukemias and lymphomas, that do not form solid adhesive structures.

Ectoderm

The outer embryonic layer that gives rise to the skin and the nervous system.

Endoderm

The inner embryonic layer that gives rise to the gut lining and several intestinal organs.

Mesoderm

The middle embryonic layer that gives rise to muscle, blood, and bones.

Transformation

The cellular process driven by genetic mutations that converts a healthy cell into a cancer cell.

Monoclonal Tumor

A tumor in which all constituent cells carry identical mutations, having descended as clones from a single mutated parent cell.

Polyclonal Tumor

A tumor composed of cells derived from multiple distinct genotypes due to accumulated genetic mutations over time.

Contact Inhibition

A cellular control mechanism where physical contact between neighboring cells inhibits further cell division and growth.

Cellular Adhesion Requirement

The normal requirement that organ cells remain attached to a substrate surface in order to survive.

HeLa Cells

A line of cervical cancer cells isolated from Henrietta Lacks in the mid-1940s that continuously proliferate in artificial conditions due to the loss of contact inhibition and loss of cellular adhesion.

Knudson's Two-Hit Hypothesis

The concept that cancerous transformation requires two distinct mutations: a loss-of-function mutation in a tumor suppressor gene and a gain-of-function mutation in a proto-oncogene.

Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes that act as cellular brakes, such as cell cycle regulators, which contribute to cancer when they undergo a loss-of-function mutation.

Proto-oncogenes

Genes that act as cellular gas pedals, such as growth factors and cell signaling proteins, which contribute to cancer when they undergo a gain-of-function mutation.

Somatic Cells

Non-germline body cells (e.g., breast, lung, or liver cells) whose acquired mutations are not heritable.

Germline Cells

Reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) set aside early in embryonic development whose genetic mutations can be passed on to offspring.

Hallmarks of Cancer

Sustaining Proliferative Signaling, Evading Growth Suppressors, Resisting Cell Death, Enabling Replicative Immortality, Inducing Angiogenesis, Activating Invasion and Metastasis