1) The “classic hallmarks” (or properties) of cancer cells. Explain briefly how
ID: 206413 • Letter: 1
Question
1) The “classic hallmarks” (or properties) of cancer cells. Explain briefly how cancer cells can acquire each of these hallmarks. Discuss what experimental approaches you might consider to investigate each hallmark.
In addition to the “classic” hallmarks, other characteristics (classified as Emerging hallmarks and Enabling characteristics) have been identified in the past 5-10 years. Why do you think it is crucial for cancer cells to implement these characteristics? At what stage(s) in the progression of the disease do you think they are required?
3) Understanding the hallmarks of cancer is essential for interventions that can attack or block cancer progression. What approaches and/or drugs are currently being considered that act at each of the hallmarks and characteristics. Explain briefly their mechanism of action
Explanation / Answer
Ans 1) The classic hallmarks of cancer cells are as follows:-
They acquire such self sufficient growth signals by producing them by self through autocrine signalling process. It tends to permanently activate the signalling pathways which respond to such signals and they do it by destroying the switches that shuts down such production. The proteins that are responsible for such control are altered in such cases.
There are tumor suppressor proteins whose function and mechanism is altered and they fail to prevent the process of cell division. They lack contact inhibition which prevents anti-growth signals.
Normal cells destroy self through apoptosis but the cancer cells are not able to do so. It does so as it alters the mechanism and detects the damages. Tumor cells are not able to generate proper signals which lead to lack of apoptosis.
They have unlimited rate of proliferation as there is no control over the mechanism of stopping of the proliferation. It resists apoptosis and proliferate large number of cells causing all the issues.
The tumor or cancer tissues trigger production of blood vessel which leads to providing oxygen and nutrition to tumor cells. It does so by activating the angiogenic switch and hence supports growth of tumor cells.
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