PATH 300 Study Guide - Final Guide: Tumor Suppressor Gene, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

• School: McGill University
• Department: Pathology
• Course: PATH 300
• Professor: Edith Zorychta

Document Summary

Understanding that cancer is caused by enviro factors started in the 1700s: chimney sweepers had much higher incidence of scrotal cancer due to soot in chimneys, washing well each day helped to decrease the rate. Cancer = accumulation of a series of mutations that affect cell growth, there 3 phases. Initiation mutations that make a potentially malignant cell: promotion the right enviro is needed to promote growth of the initial cancer cell, progression tumour growth and metastasis to other locations. From normal cell to tumour cell: start with a normal cell, carcinogen-induced change leading to tumour cell (original clone), genetic instability forming a variation of progeny cells, some cells will produce multiple clones leading to a heterogeneous tumour. Some of these cells may be able to invade the tissue and cause metastasis. Cells must have their own growth signals, insensitivity to anti-growth signals, tissue invasion and metastasis, limitless replicative potential (telomere length), sustained angiogenesis, evasion of apoptosis.