what is cancer? how it occurs and cell cycle regulation
TRANSCRIPT
What is Cancer?
How it occurs and cell cycle regulation
What is Cancer?• Cancer = cellular growth disorder that occurs
when cell divide uncontrollably.- Cause carcinogenesis, formation of cancer cells
• Tumor = mass of cancerous cellsCan be:
1. Benign = noncancerous2. Malignant = cancerous and may
spread (metastasis)* Tumors may also promote angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels
Metastasis video
How Does Cancer Start?* Cell cycle is regulated by a set of proteins called cyclins.
• They make sure necessary steps completed at each checkpoint.
* Cancer originates when a cell continues to go through cycle even when it shouldn’t.
Cancer Genes• Cancer caused by mutations in genes that
regulate cell cycle.
1. Proto-oncogenes (over 100 known)- proteins that promote cell cycle- mutations lead to oncogenes,
promote cell growth regardless of circumstances.
2. Tumor Suppressor genes (12 known)- proteins that inhibit cell cycle- mutations lead to cell cycle not
stopping even when it should. (p53 and Rb genes)
Can We Find a Cure?Treatments include:
1. Chemotherapy2. Radiation therapy3. Targeted therapy4. Transplantation
For more info on treatments: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/types-of-treatment
* Key is to find genes linked to cell cycle and develop treatments for their loss or function. (p53 gene linked to over half of all human cancers)