MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF CANCER
- chemicals that causes mutations
o Cancer is genetic in origin
- we all have cancer gene. They are just
activated when triggered
Definition of Terms:
1. Somatic cell- body cells
- comprises all parts of the body (except
germline
- always undergo mitosis
2. Germ line- egg/sperm/sex cells
3. Mutant- effect of mutation
4. Microtumor- onset development of
cancer and cannot be detected.
Localized
STAGES OF CANCER DEVELOPMENT
1. Control of normal cell division is lost
2. Abnormal (mutant) cell divides to form
microtumor
3. Many microtumors formed throughout
the body eventually leading to a tumor
Can be
malignant
(cancerous)/be
nign (non-
cancerous)
Angiogenesis – formation of new blood vessel
Environmental Factors and Cancer
o Carcinogen
- agent that causes cancer
o Mutagen
(alters and damages the DNA)
Ex: radiation
Note: 80% of cancers are derived from
epithelial cells
NOT ALL CARCINOGENS ARE
MUTAGENS
o Genes that Affect Cancer
2 types
- Oncogenes
- Tumor Suppressor Genes (anti-
oncogenes)
ONCOGENES
- mutated form of proto-oncogene
- cancer-causing genes and mutant
oncogenes
- mutations in oncogenes are dominant
*Proto-oncogenes – control cell division
- wild-type of oncogenes
-Detection by transformation – healthy
cells are checked upon insertion of
cancer cells
o Types of Mutations that Generate
Oncogenes
- Mutations that generate oncogenes
are dominant from increased activity of
the cell.
Major Components (of cell division):
> Growth Factor
> Cell surface receptor
> Signal transduction proteins
> Transcription factors
*Cellular growth is signalled by a
growth factor that binds and activates
its cell surface receptor. The
 intracellular portion of the receptor
activates intracellular proteins that
move to the nucleus. Inside the nucleus,
the proteins activate a transcription
factor that turns on genes for growth.
o The Ras Oncogene – Hyperactive
Protein
- blocks action of all cyclins and freezes
the cell until damage is repaired
p16
- acts similarly with p21 but
only blocks cyclin E
- stops division at critical point
before S-phase

Ras Protein
Techniques in Genetic Analysis of Cancer:
- transmits signals concerning cell
- DNA sequence
division in human, flies, and even yeast.
- PCR
- result of a single alteration in the
- Microarrays
amino acid in the encoded protein
- Hyperactive Ras causes uncontrolled
cell division and beginning of possible
Formation of Tumor
cancer usually seen in lungs, colon,
General: (colon cancer)
pancreas and thyroid cancer.
1. Inactivation of APC anti-oncogene (both
copies)
o Tumor Suppressor Genes (Anti-
2. Activation of Ras oncogene
oncogene)
3. Inactivation of DCC anti-oncogene (both
- suppress division of cancer cells
copies)
4. Mutation of single copy of p53
Anti-oncogenes
- p16
Metastasis – spread of cancer to the other parts
- p21
of the body
- p53

Reason for Tumor to Metastasize

1. Loss of adhesion to neighboring cells
p53
and the home tumor
- found on the short arm of
2. Ability to penetrate the membrane
chromosome 17
surrounding other tissue
- has the protein T53
- acts as emergency blocking system for
Cancer-causing Viruses= HHV8, RSV, HPV
cell cycle
- shows effect in single mutation
despite the presence of second normal
Is Cancer Inherited?
gene copy
1. Possibility of inheriting one defective
copy of oncogene
p21
2. Mutations in certain special genes
- activated by normal p53 protein
affect rate at which further mutations
especially if cell’s DNA is damaged
occur during cell division
3. Indirect effect of race or within
populations