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Cancer Biology Exam 1 Questions and Answers Latest Version 100% Pass
Which of the following is the process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body?✔✔ Metastasis
What is the primary characteristic of a cancer cell that differentiates it from normal cells?✔✔ Uncontrolled cell division
Which gene is known as a tumor suppressor gene that helps regulate cell growth and prevent tumor formation?✔✔ p53
What is the role of proto-oncogenes in normal cellular processes?✔✔ They promote cell division and growth under normal conditions
How does the mutation of a proto-oncogene lead to cancer?✔✔ It can convert into an oncogene, causing uncontrolled cell proliferation
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What is angiogenesis and how does it contribute to cancer progression?✔✔ Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels, which provides tumors with nutrients and oxygen, aiding in their growth
Which phase of the cell cycle is most critical for checking DNA damage before cell division?✔✔ G1 phase
What is the role of the cell cycle checkpoint proteins?✔✔ They ensure the cell does not progress through the cycle with damaged DNA
What is the function of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in cancer biology?✔✔ They are involved in DNA repair; mutations increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers
What is the process called when a cell experiences programmed cell death to prevent the proliferation of damaged cells?✔✔ Apoptosis
How do cancer cells evade apoptosis? 2 / 4
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✔✔ By acquiring mutations in genes that regulate cell death, such as p53
What is the significance of telomerase in cancer cells?✔✔ Telomerase helps cancer cells maintain their telomeres, allowing them to divide indefinitely
How do tumor suppressor genes function in normal cells?✔✔ They inhibit cell division and repair DNA damage to prevent cancer formation
What is the Warburg effect and how does it relate to cancer metabolism?✔✔ The Warburg effect refers to cancer cells preferentially using glycolysis for energy production, even in the presence of oxygen
What is the relationship between inflammation and cancer development?✔✔ Chronic inflammation can lead to DNA damage and promote cancer progression by producing growth factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines
What is the role of the immune system in recognizing and eliminating cancer cells? 3 / 4
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✔✔ The immune system identifies cancer cells as abnormal and destroys them through T-cells and natural killer cells
How does the loss of contact inhibition contribute to cancer development?✔✔ Cancer cells lose the ability to recognize when they are overcrowded, leading to uncontrolled cell growth
What is the function of the RAS protein in normal cells, and how does its mutation contribute to cancer?✔✔ RAS regulates cell signaling pathways for growth; its mutation can result in continuous signaling for cell division, leading to cancer
What are the primary characteristics of benign tumors?✔✔ Benign tumors grow slowly, do not invade surrounding tissues, and do not metastasize
How do oncogenes promote cancer development?✔✔ Oncogenes encode for proteins that drive uncontrolled cell proliferation, often due to mutations or overexpression
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