Upon completion of this lesson you will be able to:
1. Identify common misconceptions about cancer
2. Create a graphic organizer to represent what you know about
cancer
3. Summarize the characteristics of the cell cycle
and its regulation
4. Recognize the consequences of uncontrolled cell division
5. Compare the appearance, structure, function, and replication of
healthy cells to those of cancerous cells
6. Describe how cancer develops
2
Steve and Nikki are fraternal
twins in high school. They
recently learned that their
mother has been diagnosed
with cancer. They have no
idea what this really means for
their mom and for them.
3
Mom has a doctor’s appointment so she
can’t make my game. Dad said he would
leave work early to make the game. I’m
glad he’s coming but I wish mom could
make it and I wonder if we should just stay
home.
I still don’t know what cancer really is and
Nikki and I don’t want to bug mom and dad.
Can someone just tell me what exactly is
cancer?
4
5
Question 1:
The risk of dying from cancer
in the United States is
increasing.
FALSE.
The risk of dying from
cancer in the United States
has decreased from 1975 to
2012.
6
Year of Death Total Males Females
1975 17.8 0.4 31.5
1980 18.0 0.3 31.7
1985 18.8 0.3 33.0
1990 18.9 0.3 33.1
1995 17.4 0.4 30.6
2000 15.2 0.4 26.6
2005 13.5 0.3 24.0
2010 12.2 0.3 21.9
2012 11.83 0.3 21.1
1975-2012 16.0 0.3 28.2
US Mortality Files, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 2000 US Std Population (19 age groups - Census
P25-1130). Source: National Cancer Institute. SEER Statistics Review 1975-2006.
7
Question 2:
Cancer can be spread from person to
person.
FALSE.
Cancer cannot be
passed from one person
to another. Though cancer
itself isn’t contagious, sometimes
viruses, which are contagious, can
lead to the development of cancer.
8
Question 3:
What someone does as a young adult
has little effect on their chance of
getting cancer later in life.
FALSE.
Most cases of cancer are the
consequence of many years of
exposure to several risk factors.
9
Question 4:
There is currently a cure for cancer but
the medical industry won’t tell the
public about it because they make too
much money treating cancer patients.
FALSE.
Plenty of doctors and their loved
ones die of cancer each year. Why would
anyone hide such an important discovery?
Think about the speed with which other medical
breakthroughs in vaccines and antibiotics have been
announced and applied.
10
Question 5:
Treating cancer with surgery can
cause it to spread throughout the body.
FALSE.
Specialists in cancer surgery know
how to safely take biopsy samples
and to remove tumors without
causing the cancer to spread. In
many cases, surgery is an essential
part of the cancer treatment plan.
11
Question 6:
Cancer can be effectively treated.
TRUE.
The five major types of treatment
for cancer are surgery, radiation,
chemotherapy, biologic
therapies, and therapies that
boost the patient’s immune
system.
12
Effective cancer treatments can include several types of Cancer
Warriors. What do each of the following professionals do to fight
cancer?
13
Question 7:
Cancer is a group of over 100 diseases.
TRUE
. main categories of cancer include:
The
Carcinoma
Sarcoma
Leukemia
Lymphoma and myeloma
Central nervous system cancers
14
Question 8:
Cancer cells can be distinguished from
normal cells because of their abnormal
growth.
TRUE.
Normally, cells grow and divide to
produce more cells as they are needed
to keep the body healthy. Sometimes,
this orderly process goes wrong. New
cells form when the body does not
need them, and old cells do not die
when they should.
15
Question 9:
Cancer can only occur in specific
cells in the body.
FALSE.
The body is made up of many types
of cells, and all cancer begins in
cells. Cancer can develop in any cell
in the body, which is why there are
so many different types.
16
Question 10:
Cancer develops because of
abnormal gene function.
TRUE.
Scientists have learned that cancer is
caused by changes in genes that
normally control the growth and death
of cells. Certain lifestyle and
environmental factors can change some
normal genes into genes that allow the
growth of cancer.
17
Construct a concept map illustrating what you know about
cancer. You can use circles, ovals, squares, or other shapes for
main concepts or ideas.
Cancer
18
Based on what you
learned today,
write a response to
Steve’s question:
What is cancer?
19
Nikki has a lot of
questions and Steve is
not sure how to help
answer them. What
would you want to know
if you were in their
shoes?
21
I remember learning about the phases
of the cell cycle, but don’t understand
the deal with cancer. I wonder what
mom
went through before now!
I really want to help but I just
keep wondering about what’s
going to happen.
Also, will I get cancer, too?
22
How do healthy and cancerous cells differ?
Healthy Cancerous
23
Healthy Cancerous
Cytoplasm
Nucleus
Chromatin
Nucleolus
24
Healthy Cancerous
Cytoplasm
Nucleus
Chromatin
Nucleolus
Large Cytoplasm Small Cytoplasm
Single Nucleus Multiple Nuclei
Single Nucleolus Multiple & Large Nucleoli
Fine Chromatin Coarse Chromatin
25
Characteristics of Normal & Cancerous Cells
Normal Cancerous
Number of Cells
Shape of Cells
Number of Nuclei
Amount of Cytoplasm
Less Less Less Even More More More Irregular
26
Structure Function
Nucleus _________________________________________
Mitochondria _________________________________________
Ribosomes _________________________________________
Golgi Apparatus _________________________________________
Centrioles _________________________________________
Chromosomes _________________________________________
Endoplasmic Reticulum _________________________________________
27
Nucleus
Control center of the cell. Contains all genetic information.
Mitochondria
Powerhouse of the cell.
Converts sugar to usable energy by cellular respiration.
Ribosomes
Site of protein synthesis.
Golgi Apparatus
Packaging center of the cell. Packages and secretes proteins.
Centrioles
Organizes microtubules (spindle fibers) for mitosis.
Chromosomes
Made of condensed DNA and proteins. Codes for genetic traits.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Transports intracellular materials.
28
Phases of Cell Cycle
Gap 0 (G0): Resting Stage
Gap 1 (G1): Growth
Synthesis (S): DNA Replication
Gap 2 (G2): Growth
Mitosis (M): Nuclear Division and
Cytokinesis
29
30 Source: The presidents and Fellows of Harvard College., 2013
The cell has several systems for interrupting the
cell cycle if something goes wrong.
Checkpoints in G1 and G2 look for DNA damage
and try to repair it.
Damage that is so severe that it cannot be repaired
will lead a cell to self-destruct by apoptosis.
Mitosis checkpoint detects failure of spindle
fibers to attach to kinetochores and will arrest cell
in metaphase until corrected.
31
All checkpoints require the function of a
complex of proteins. Mutations in the
genes encoding some of these proteins
have been associated with cancer.
Checkpoint failures due to gene mutations
allow the cell to continue dividing despite
damage to its integrity.
32
33
34 Source: The presidents and Fellows of Harvard College., 2013
Cell Cycle Quality Control
Source- Don Bliss for the National Cancer Institute
35
When a tumor suppressor gene is
mutated, there is loss of function
resulting in cell cycle checkpoint
failure and uncontrolled division
of abnormal cells.
36
Tumor suppressor genes are
like the brakes of a car.
When the brakes lose
function, the car moves out
of control.
Similarly, when tumor
suppressor genes lose
function, the cells grow out
of control.
37
Tumor suppressor genes are
like the brakes of a car.
When the brakes lose
function, the car moves out
of control.
Similarly, when tumor
suppressor genes lose
function, the cells grow out
of control.
38
When a proto-oncogene is
mutated (now called
oncogene), there is gain of
function resulting in a cell
cycle checkpoint failure and
uncontrolled division of
abnormal cells.
39
Proto-oncogenes are like the gas
pedal of a car.
If the gas pedal gets stuck in the “on”
position, a car keeps moving whether
the pedal is pushed or not.
Similarly, when a proto-oncogene
mutates into an oncogene, a cell will
keep dividing even when there are no
messages to divide
40
Gene function is
activated
Proto-oncogenes are like the gas pedal of a car.
If the gas pedal gets stuck in the “on” position,
a car keeps moving whether the pedal is
pushed or not.
Similarly, when a proto-oncogene mutates into
an oncogene, a cell will keep dividing even
when there are no messages to divide.
41
Normal Cell Division
The cell proceeds with normal cell division. At
least one error is detected at one or more cell cycle
checkpoints. Once the errors are repaired and
checkpoints are cleared, the cell divides normally.
Tumor Suppressor Gene Mutation
Tumor suppressor gene loses function.
cells will continue to divide.
Proto-oncogene Mutation
Proto-oncogene mutates into an oncogene. The
cells will continue to divide.
42
What is the difference between the three
cell division scenario? Let’s find out.
Divide into three groups and assign parts
for a role play.
1 2 3
43
Create a model that explains
the relationship between the cell cycle
and the development of cancer. Your
model can be an illustration, a description,
a video explanation, or a physical
representation.
44
I remember learning about the
phases of the cell cycle, but don’t
understand the deal with cancer.
I wonder what mom went through before now! I
really want to help but I just keep wondering
about what’s going to happen. Also, will I get
cancer, too?
45
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