Chapter 8, Section 4: The Cell Cycle and Cancer

Vocabulary flashcards covering the cell cycle, cancer progression, proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, telomeres, and chromosomal translocations based on Chapter 8, Section 4.

Cancer

A disease characterized by inappropriate cell cycle progression where cell cycle regulation is out of control and cells divide without normal balance.

Cancer in situ

A stage of cancer, named from the Latin phrase meaning 'in the place it started,' where mutated cells begin growing out of control at their original site.

Proteinase

An enzyme produced by mutated cancer cells that breaks down the proteins holding cells together in a tissue, allowing the cells to migrate.

Metastatic tumor

A tumor that forms when cancer cells enter the blood or lymphatic vessels, migrate to other tissues or organs, and begin growing again.

Proto-oncogenes

Normal genes that code for proteins that promote the cell cycle and inhibit apoptosis, which can become oncogenes when mutated.

Oncogenes

Cancer-causing genes that arise from mutated proto-oncogenes and promote uncontrolled cell cycle progression.

Tumor suppressor genes

Genes that encode proteins that put the brake on the cell cycle, inhibit tumors, and promote apoptosis.

Telomeres

The ends of chromosomes in eukaryotic cells that naturally shorten with cell divisions and aging.

Telomerase

An enzyme found in stem cells and cancer cells that extends telomeres, preventing them from shortening and allowing cells to continue dividing indefinitely.

Translocation

A chromosomal rearrangement event where a piece of a chromosome breaks off and connects itself to a completely different chromosome.

BRCA1 and BRCA2

Genes whose mutant variants are correlated with an increased risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other reproductive and urinary system cancers in both women and men.

RB gene

A cell cycle regulation gene whose mutant version is associated with a high rate of eye cancer in the retina, known as retinoblastoma.

Philadelphia chromosome

An abnormal chromosome created by a translocation between chromosome 9 (carrying the ABL gene) and chromosome 22 (carrying the BCR gene), which inappropriately activates ABL and is associated with blood cancers.