3. Energy & Cell Processes

What is the difference between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor?

Which of the following hypotheses is best supported by observing cancer cells in a culture?

A cancer cell __________.

In the human genome, oncogenes __________.

Most human cancers are __________.

What gene has been called the "guardian angel of the genome"?

Why is cancer more prevalent in older people?

In what way can cancer be hereditary?

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are thought to be what type of genes?

What two genes are often mutated in colon cancer?

Which of the following accurately characterizes our current understanding of cancer development?

Describe three ways that cancer cells differ from normal cells.

Vinblastine is a standard chemotherapeutic drug used to treat cancer. Because it interferes with the assembly of microtubules, its effectiveness must be related to a. disruption of mitotic spindle formation. b. suppression of cyclin production. c. myosin denaturation and inhibition of cleavage furrow formation. d.inhibition of DNA synthesis.

One difference between cancer cells and normal cells is that cancer cells a. are unable to synthesize DNA. b. are arrested at the S phase of the cell cycle. c. continue to divide even when they are tightly packed together. d. cannot function properly because they are affected by density-dependent inhibition.

Evaluate each of the following defects. Which could lead to uncontrolled growth in cancer? Select True or False for each statement. T/F The overexpression of MPF activity. T/F A nonfunctional Rb protein. T/F The overexpression of G1 cyclin. T/F A nonfunctional E2F protein.

All your cells contain proto-oncogenes, which can change into cancer-causing oncogenes. Why do cells possess such potential time bombs?

Compare and contrast the effects of removing growth factors from asynchronous cultures of human cells that are normal and those that are cancerous.

Proto-oncogenes can change into oncogenes that cause cancer. Which of the following best explains the presence of these potential time bombs in eukaryotic cells? a. Proto-oncogenes first arose from viral infections. b. Proto-oncogenes are mutant versions of normal genes. c. Proto-oncogenes are genetic 'junk.' d. Proto-oncogenes normally help regulate cell division.

Scientific Thinking The study described in Module 8.10 was purely observational; there were no controlled groups. Imagine that you are an oncologist. Design a hypothesis-driven study to determine whether mastectomy improves breast cancer survival over lumpectomy. What are your control groups? Would such a study be ethical to undertake? Why or why not?