Cancer Genetics

A set of flashcards summarizing key concepts from the Cancer Genetics lecture.

What is cancer considered at the level of somatic cells?

A genetic disease caused by mutations in somatic cells.

What are the two fundamental properties of cancer cells?

Abnormal cell growth and division, and metastatic spread.

What distinguishes benign tumors from malignant tumors?

Benign tumors result from unregulated cell growth without spreading, while malignant tumors invade other tissues and pose life-threatening issues.

What is the concept of clonal origin in cancer cells?

All cancer cells in a primary or secondary tumor originate from a common ancestral cell that has accumulated specific mutations.

What are driver mutations in cancer?

Mutations that give a growth advantage to a tumor cell, usually a limited number in a particular cancer.

What does the cancer stem cell hypothesis propose?

Tumor cells that proliferate result in cancer stem cells capable of self-renewal and forming new tumors.

What role do carcinogens play in cancer?

Carcinogens are substances that damage DNA and cause mutations in proto-oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes.

What is the effect of DNA methylation in cancer?

DNA methylation is responsible for gene silencing related to cancer, affecting gene expression.

How do proto-oncogenes contribute to cancer development?

Proto-oncogenes promote cell growth and division; when mutated, they can become oncogenes which drive cancer.

What is the function of tumor-suppressor genes?

They regulate cell-cycle checkpoints and initiate apoptosis, preventing uncontrolled cell proliferation.