1. What is Cancer? How it occurs and cell cycle regulation

2. Cancer = cellular growth disorder that occurs when cell divide uncontrollably. - Cause carcinogenesis, formation of cancer cells Tumor = mass of cancerous cells Can be: 1. Benign = noncancerous 2. Malignant = cancerous and may spread (metastasis) * Tumors may also promote angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels

3. Metastasis video

4. * Cell cycle is regulated by a set of proteins called cyclins. They make sure necessary steps completed at each checkpoint. * Cancer originates when a cell continues to go through cycle even when it shouldn’t.

5. Cancer caused by mutations in genes that regulate cell cycle. 1.Proto-oncogenes (over 100 known) - proteins that promote cell cycle - mutations lead to oncogenes, promote cell growth regardless of circumstances. 2.Tumor Suppressor genes (12 known) - proteins that inhibit cell cycle - mutations lead to cell cycle not stopping even when it should. (p53 and Rb genes)

6. Treatments include: 1.Chemotherapy 2.Radiation therapy 3.Targeted therapy 4.Transplantation For more info on treatments: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/types-of-treatment http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/types-of-treatment * Key is to find genes linked to cell cycle and develop treatments for their loss or function. (p53 gene linked to over half of all human cancers)