Download - Acquired Capabilities of Cancer
Acquired Capabilities of Cancer
From: Hanahan D. Weinberg RA. The hallmarks of cancer. Cell. 2000 Jan 7;100(1):57-70
Tumor Development Occurs in Stages
Weinberg RA. How cancer arises. Sci Am. 1996 Sep;275(3):62-70.
Tumor Development Occurs in Stages, cont.
Weinberg RA. How cancer arises. Sci Am. 1996 Sep;275(3):62-70.
Genetic abnormalities in cancer cells1. Oncogenes get activated or become expressed more
than normal
– Oncogene: a gene that, when mutated or dysregulated, participates in the onset and development of cancer
– The protein may be• expressed at a greater level (more protein in the cell)• become more active• lose its potential to be regulated• increase its stability (hang around in the cell longer)
– These changes can cause the cell to be hyper-responsive to growth signals, grow in the absence of proper growth signals, evade apoptosis, etc.
Genetic abnormalities, cont.2. Tumor suppressor genes stop working
– Tumor suppressor gene: a gene that protects a cell from one step in the cancer pathogenesis process
– The gene product may be a protein that maintains the normal cell cycle, inhibits an oncogene, inhibits cell division, etc.
– When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated or dysregulated, the cell can progress to cancer if other aberrations are also present
Gibbs WW. Untangling the roots of cancer. Sci Am. 2003 Jul;289(1):56-65.
Cancer can spread to other sites
Ruoslahti E. How cancer spreads. Sci Am. 1996 Sep;275(3):72-7.
Cancer can spread to other sites, cont.
Ruoslahti E. How cancer spreads. Sci Am. 1996 Sep;275(3):72-7.
New cases of cancer in the U.S.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2008. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2008.
Cancer deaths among U.S. men
Cancer deaths among U.S. women
(includes cervix)
Role of body weight and IGF-1 in cancer development
Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Oct;17(8):328-36
T. vaginalis
•Parasitic protozoan
•Infection affects 5-20% of U.S. young adults, typically asymptomatic in males
•Causes inflammation and may induce anti-apoptosis genes
•Preliminary data suggest that infection is linked to higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer