Hallmarks of Cancer: Fundamental biological capabilities acquired during tumor development that enable cancer cells to grow, survive, and spread. First proposed by Hanahan and Weinberg, they include traits such as sustained proliferation and immune evasion.
Sustaining Proliferative Signaling: The ability of cancer cells to continuously stimulate their own growth by producing growth factors or activating signaling pathways, bypassing normal regulatory mechanisms.
Evading Growth Suppressors: Cancer cells disable or ignore signals from tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53, RB) that normally inhibit cell cycle progression, allowing uncontrolled growth.
Resisting Cell Death: The capacity to evade apoptosis (programmed cell death), often through mutations in apoptotic pathways, enabling survival despite cellular damage or stress.
Enabling Replicative Immortality: The ability to divide indefinitely, often through the maintenance of telomeres via telomerase activation, preventing cellular aging and senescence.
1. What are the 'Hallmarks of Cancer' as described in cancer biology?
2. Which gene is most commonly associated with cell cycle regulation dysregulation in cancer?
3. What is the primary role of classifying different cancer types such as carcinoma, sarcoma, leukemia, and lymphoma?
Cancer hallmarks — definition?
Biological traits enabling tumor growth and spread.
Cell cycle dysregulation — mechanism?
Mutations in genes controlling cell division lead to uncontrolled proliferation.
Tumor microenvironment — components?
Includes stromal cells, immune cells, ECM, and signaling molecules.
Cancer hallmarks — definition?
Biological capabilities enabling tumor growth and spread.
Sustaining proliferative signaling — role?
Allows continuous growth stimulation in cancer cells.
Evading growth suppressors — example?
Inactivation of p53 or RB.
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