PATH 120 MODULE 2 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALL
CORRECT
What is Familial cancer? - Answer- Cancer with a clear inherited component.
What analogy describes oncogenes? - Answer- Bolting a car's gas pedal to the floor.
What is a Gain-of-function mutation? - Answer- A mutation that grants new, constitutive
abilities to a protein.
What is a Loss-of-function mutation? - Answer- A mutation that inactivates a protein's
normal restraining function.
Why can someone be born with a higher risk for familial cancer? - Answer- They inherit
one non-functional tumor suppressor allele, making the 'second hit' much more likely.
What is the role of oncogenes in normal embryonic development? - Answer- Promoting
rapid cell proliferation (e.g., limb growth).
What is the role of tumour suppressors in normal development? - Answer- Promoting
apoptosis (e.g., removing webbing between fingers).
What is the model tumour suppressor gene for this course? - Answer- TP53.
What is the protein product of the TP53 gene? - Answer- p53.
What is p53's nickname? - Answer- Guardian of the Genome.
What is p53's most prominent role? - Answer- Responding to genomic damage by
activating repair or cell death.
At what cell cycle checkpoint does p53 primarily act? - Answer- The G1/S checkpoint.
What happens if DNA repair is successful after p53 activation? - Answer- The cell
proceeds with the cell cycle.
, What happens if DNA repair fails after p53 activation? - Answer- p53 triggers apoptosis
or senescence.
What is the model oncogene for this course? - Answer- ERBB-1.
What protein does ERBB-1 code for? - Answer- Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
(EGFR).
Where is EGFR located in the cell? - Answer- It is a cell surface receptor (extracellular
component).
What is a Tyrosine Kinase? - Answer- An enzyme that transfers a phosphate group to
proteins, acting as an 'on/off' switch.
What process occurs after ligand binding to EGFR to start the signal? - Answer-
Phosphorylation.
How is the EGFR signal normally terminated? - Answer- Ligand release or receptor
breakdown in lysosomes.
What is Angiogenesis? - Answer- The development of new blood vessels.
What is Hyperactivation of EGFR? - Answer- Mutations cause the receptor to be
drastically more active for the same amount of ligand.
What is Constitutive Activation of EGFR? - Answer- The receptor signals at all times
without needing a ligand; it cannot be terminated.
How do Antibody-based therapies target EGFR? - Answer- They target the extracellular
ligand-binding domain to inactivate it.
How do Kinase Inhibitors target EGFR? - Answer- Small molecules traverse the
membrane and disrupt internal signaling cascades.
Why are there fewer drugs targeting p53 than EGFR? - Answer- p53 is intracellular
(harder to reach) and requires restoring function rather than just blocking it.
How old is Aaliyah in the case study? - Answer- 59.
What was Aaliyah's initial diagnosis? - Answer- Iron deficiency anemia.
Why is iron deficiency anemia a concern for older adults? - Answer- It can indicate
frequent bleeding from a GI cancer.
What is the essence of cancer? - Answer- The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in
the body.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALL
CORRECT
What is Familial cancer? - Answer- Cancer with a clear inherited component.
What analogy describes oncogenes? - Answer- Bolting a car's gas pedal to the floor.
What is a Gain-of-function mutation? - Answer- A mutation that grants new, constitutive
abilities to a protein.
What is a Loss-of-function mutation? - Answer- A mutation that inactivates a protein's
normal restraining function.
Why can someone be born with a higher risk for familial cancer? - Answer- They inherit
one non-functional tumor suppressor allele, making the 'second hit' much more likely.
What is the role of oncogenes in normal embryonic development? - Answer- Promoting
rapid cell proliferation (e.g., limb growth).
What is the role of tumour suppressors in normal development? - Answer- Promoting
apoptosis (e.g., removing webbing between fingers).
What is the model tumour suppressor gene for this course? - Answer- TP53.
What is the protein product of the TP53 gene? - Answer- p53.
What is p53's nickname? - Answer- Guardian of the Genome.
What is p53's most prominent role? - Answer- Responding to genomic damage by
activating repair or cell death.
At what cell cycle checkpoint does p53 primarily act? - Answer- The G1/S checkpoint.
What happens if DNA repair is successful after p53 activation? - Answer- The cell
proceeds with the cell cycle.
, What happens if DNA repair fails after p53 activation? - Answer- p53 triggers apoptosis
or senescence.
What is the model oncogene for this course? - Answer- ERBB-1.
What protein does ERBB-1 code for? - Answer- Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
(EGFR).
Where is EGFR located in the cell? - Answer- It is a cell surface receptor (extracellular
component).
What is a Tyrosine Kinase? - Answer- An enzyme that transfers a phosphate group to
proteins, acting as an 'on/off' switch.
What process occurs after ligand binding to EGFR to start the signal? - Answer-
Phosphorylation.
How is the EGFR signal normally terminated? - Answer- Ligand release or receptor
breakdown in lysosomes.
What is Angiogenesis? - Answer- The development of new blood vessels.
What is Hyperactivation of EGFR? - Answer- Mutations cause the receptor to be
drastically more active for the same amount of ligand.
What is Constitutive Activation of EGFR? - Answer- The receptor signals at all times
without needing a ligand; it cannot be terminated.
How do Antibody-based therapies target EGFR? - Answer- They target the extracellular
ligand-binding domain to inactivate it.
How do Kinase Inhibitors target EGFR? - Answer- Small molecules traverse the
membrane and disrupt internal signaling cascades.
Why are there fewer drugs targeting p53 than EGFR? - Answer- p53 is intracellular
(harder to reach) and requires restoring function rather than just blocking it.
How old is Aaliyah in the case study? - Answer- 59.
What was Aaliyah's initial diagnosis? - Answer- Iron deficiency anemia.
Why is iron deficiency anemia a concern for older adults? - Answer- It can indicate
frequent bleeding from a GI cancer.
What is the essence of cancer? - Answer- The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in
the body.
