T6: Chemical carcinogenesis

10 important questions on T6: Chemical carcinogenesis

What is the difference between banign tumors and malignant tumors?

Benign tumors are well differentiated and they are a closed capsule. There is no infiltration and slow growth. There is no necrosis and it can be removed savely.

Malignant they are poorly differentiated and there is a lot of infiltration. There is no capsule and it grows fast. There is also necrotic tissue, the damage is much more severe.

Active tumour suppressor -> inactive tumour suppressor

Inactive: inactivated genes no longer control cell growth

What are proto-oncogenes and oncogenes?

Proto-oncogenes are genes with a normal function in regulating cell division. Than different effect or mutations can  come and this might change them into oncogenes. These are transformed genes causing uncontrolled cell division.
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What are tumor suppressors and what happens when they are inhibited?

Tumor suppressors are genes that normally blocks cell cycle progression (in response to DNA damage). If they get inactivated due to mutations, there will be no control of cell division of cells.

What is true about induction of cancer by aflatoxin B1 ?

It is initiated by formation of a genotoxic metabolite


What are the steps of getting a cancer cell?

Normal cell gets a mutation and this might be repaired. Then it is an initiated cell and this will result in appoptosis, or proliferation. Than you get a focal lesion and this can also do appoptosis or proliferate further to become a cancercell.

What are important carcinogenic chemicals ?

-aflatoxin B1
-Polycyclic hydrocarbons

How can chemicals cause canCer?

Every genotoxic molecule increases the risk for cancer. Because they do directly interac with the DNA

There could be defined a threshold/save level of exposure for non-genotoxic carcinogens, they do not interact directly with the DNA.

Three stage in the process of carcinogenesis are called:

-uncontrolled growth
-invasion
-metastasis

How do non-genotoxic chemicals infect the DNA?

They do not direct bind to DNA
no direct damage
no interaction or metabolite with DNA.

But some can still cause cancer.
They cause cell death and aberrant repair. They can effect the repair system. They can effect the metabolism of chemicals (P450) they can effect cell growth. Also hormonal systems can be effected and de induction of the production of ROS.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

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