Cancer Biochemistry

Dr.
Kenneth Lado Lino

College of Medicine
U of J
 CellCycle
 Apoptosis
 Cancer.
 Cellcycle refers to the order process by
which each living cell undergoes growth and
cell division resulting in the formation of
two daughter cells.
 Each cell contains exactly the same genetic

information as the parent.
 Eukaryotic cell divide on average once

every 18 to 24 hours.
 G1 (Gap1) 4 hours: RNA and protein
synthesis occur in response to exogenous
growth factors (mitogens) to create the
proteins that are needed to replicate DNA in
the next phase.
 S (synthesis) 8 hours: DNA is replicated and
RNA and proteins are synthesized.
 G2 (Gap2) 12 hours: RNA and protein
synthesis continues and integrity of the DNA
is checked as the cell prepares to spilt/divide
into two.
4. M (mitosis): Nuclear and cytoplasmic
division occurs to create two identical
daughter cells.
 This phase is further divided into prophase,
metaphase, anaphase, telophase and
cytokinesis.
 G0 is a phase where cells have exited the
cell cycle and are not growing or dividing.
 However they synthesize just enough RNA
and protein for general housekeeping or for
specialized functions.
A defect in mismatch repair in humans
result in hereditary nonpolyposis colon
cancer (HNPCC).
 One of the most common inherited cancers.

 When eukaryotic cells accumulate DNA that
is beyond repair capacity , they activate a
process of programmed cell death called
apoptosis (Greek word for “falling off”).
 Apoptosis is performed by a cascade of

intracellular proteases called Caspases.
 Caspases (cysteine-aspartic proteases,
cysteine aspartases or cysteine-dependent
aspartate-directed proteases) are a family of
protease enzymes playing essential roles in
programmed cell death (including apoptosis,
pyroptosis and necroptosis) and inflammation.
 Cancer is defined as the uncontrolled growth
and proliferation of somatic cells.
 It occurs due to failure of the of the normal
regulatory mechanisms that control the cell
cycle and apoptosis.
 Cancer is a genetic disease in the sense that
it involves an abnormal increase or decrease
in the expression of a set of critical genes.
 Such abnormal gene expression is the result
of genetic damage caused by chemical or
physical agents, hormones, and in some cases
viruses.
Cancer cells are characterized by:
 diminished or uncontrolled growth.
 invasion of local tissues.
 spread or metastasis (the development of
secondary malignant growths at a distance
from a primary site of cancer) to other
parts of the body.
Radiation energy.
 Ultraviolet, X-rays and Gamma rays are
carcinogenic and mutagenic.
Many chemicals.
 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons e.g.,
Benzo (a) pyrene, dimethybenzanthracene.
 Aromatic amines-2-acetylaminofluorene.
 Nitrosamines: Dimethylnitrosamine,
diethylnitrosamine.
 Various drugs- Alkylating agents
cyclophosphamide.
 Naturally occurring compounds- dactomycin,
aflatoxin B.
 Inorganic compounds-Arsenic, asbestos,
beryllium, cadmium, chromium
 Some chemicals undergo changes from
procarcinogenic to proximate carcinogen to
finally ultimate carcinogen.
DNA viruses:
 Papovaviruses.
 Adenoviruses
 Herpesviruses
 Hepadnavirus.
RNA viruses
 Retrovirus type c and type b.
 These are genes that are capable of
causing cancer.
 Eg: Abl, fos, fes, jun, myc etc.
 Proto-Oncogenes are activated to Oncogenes
by various mechanisms:
 Promoter insertion
 Enhencer insertion.
 Chromosomal insertion.
 Gene amplification.
 Point mutation.
 RB1 is a tumor suppressor gene involved in
the genesis of retinoblastoma.
 P53 is a tumor suppressor gene that the
guardian of the genome.
 ABC-Familial adenomatous polyposis.
 BRCA1-Familial breast and ovarian cancer.
 NF1-Neurofibromatosis type1
 NF2-Neurofibromatosis type2
 RB-Retinoblastoma.
 WT1-Wilms tumor (kidney).
 Many cancers are associated with abnormal
production of enzymes, proteins and
hormones which can be measured in the
serum.
 These molecules are known as tumor

markers.
 Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-colon, lung,
breast, pancreas.
 Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-Liver, germ cell.
 Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-
Trophoblast, germ cell.
 Calcitonin (CT)-Thyroid (medullary
carcinoma)
 Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)-Prostate.
 Detection: screening in asymptomatic persons.
 Diagnosis: Differentiating malignant from benign
conditions.
 Monitoring: Predicting effect of therapy and
detecting recurrent cancer.
 Classification: Choosing therapy and predicting
tumor behavior.
 Staging: Defining extent of disease.
 Localization: Nuclear scanning of injected
radioactive antibodies.
 Therapy: Cytotoxic agents directed to marker-
containing cells.

Cancer Biochemistry

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cancer Biochemistry

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cancer Biochemistry

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dr.

Kenneth Lado Lino

 Each cell contains exactly the same genetic

 Eukaryotic cell divide on average once

 One of the most common inherited cancers.

 Apoptosis is performed by a cascade of

 These molecules are known as tumor

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.