Cancer & Control of the Cell Cycle Accurate Cell Division and Regulation of the Cell Cycle is critical to the health of the organism. Some cells divide often – stomach-lining cells Some cells never divide at maturity nerve cells Enzymes monitor the progression of phase to phase in the cell cycle. A Mistake in the cell cycle can lead to Cancer.

Enzyme Control of the Cell Cycle Enzymes… Begin and drive the cell cycle Control the cycle through its phases Enzyme Production is directed by genes located on the chromosomes. Gene – Segment of DNA that controls the production of a particular and specific protein. Mistakes in the Cell Cycle Occur When… Failure to produce certain enzymes (tumor suppressor) Overproduction of certain enzymes (oncogenes) Production of other enzymes at the wrong time (proto-oncogenes)

Cancer Cancer – a group of more than 100 diseases that develop over time as a result of uncontrolled cell division. Can develop in any cell in the body. This is why there are many different types of Cancer. Cancer cells form masses of tissue called tumors that deprive normal cells of nutrients. Benign – does not spread (not deadly) Metastatic – does spread (very deadly) In later stages of Cancer, Cancer cells enter the circulatory system and spread throughout the body. This is called metastasis. In Metastasis, traveling cancer cells form new tumors in new organs throughout the organism.

How does Cancer form? Studies show cancer is genetic as well as environmental Cancer is a multistep process… Tumors appear when they have grown to 10-100 billion cells. Typically occurs after a long time of repeated exposure and genetic mutation, thus those most at risk are those of older ages, higher exposure to mutagens, and compromised Immune systems. If there is an inherited a genetic predisposition towards cancer, then there rare events where a mutation in one cell can occur in any cell, raising the risk of developing a tumor. Thus, there are many ways that it can form and it is hard to pin-point one particular gene or exposure to show that formed cancer.

So who gets cancer? Some Facts: In the United States, men have a higher incidence of cancer 1 in 2 of developing cancer and women 1 in 3. Smokers have a 10 fold higher relative risk of lung cancer than nonsmokers. Women with a mother, sister or daughter who has had breast cancer have a 2 fold higher risk of developing breast cancer As of 2005, cancer prevalence (the total number of people living with cancer at any point in time) in the US is 10,701,000. Men (4,955,000) and Women (5,746,000) ???

Cancer Facts and Prevention Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in the US (next to Heart Disease) Most common cancers: lung, colon, breast, skin, and prostate Caused by… Environmental factors Changes in one or more of the genes that produce Enzymes involved in controlling the cell cycle Prevention of Cancer… Protect yourself from carcinogens (tobacco, pollution, UV exposure) Viral infections (damage genes) Diets low in fat, high in fiber With plenty of Vitamins & Minerals! Maintaining an ideal weight

Dr. Jane Cooke Wright Accomplishments: (Born 1919 – present) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_336.html Accomplishments: (Born 1919 – present) Dr. Jane Wright became professor of surgery, head of the cancer chemotherapy department, and associate dean at New York Medical College, and the highest ranked African-American woman at a nationally recognized medical institution. Dr. Jane Wright was the first woman to be elected president of the New York Cancer Society. History: Jane Cooke Wright's father was one of the first African-American graduates of Harvard Medical School, and he set a high standard for his daughters. Dr. Louis Wright was the first African American doctor appointed to a staff position at a municipal hospital in New York City and, in 1929, became the city's first African American police surgeon. He also established the Cancer Research Center at Harlem Hospital. Dr. Jane Wright, who thinks that nothing is more fun than exploring the unknown, is still experimenting/researching with cancer-preventative drugs. She hopes, someday, someone will find a cure for cancer.

Faces of Cancer Introduction American public often is presented with statistics about various characteristics of the U.S. and World populations. Sometimes a good way to get a sense of what such statistics mean is to express them in terms of a group of real people, like our classroom. Let’s count off in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6s!

2s, 3s, 5s, or 6s, please stand If the population in this class is representative of the American population, approximately 6 in 10 (or in this case, 4 in 6 of the class) of the people in the room will have children. The proportion of U.S. citizens who have children is a rough estimate based on data from 1994 indicating that 42 percent of women aged 15 to 44 do not have children. You may now sit.

3s and 6s, please stand If the class population is representative, approximately 3 in 10 (or in this case, 2 in 6) of the people in the room will be involved in an alcohol-related automobile accident sometime in their lifetimes. A fact sheet published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1997 (Traffic Safety Facts 1997, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa/ovrfacts.htm) estimated that about 3 in every 10 Americans would be involved in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident at some time in their lives. You may sit.

1s and 4s, please stand If the class population is representative, approximately 1 in 3 (or in this case, 2 in 6) of the people in the room will develop cancer sometime during their lifetimes. Does this statistic surprise you? Please remain standing.

Now I will ask a few of you to sit. the number of students left standing represents the approximate percentage of the U.S. population who will die of cancer (about 25 percent.) Note that the work of scientists and health care professionals across many years has increased the gap between the number of people who develop cancer and the number of people who die from it. You may now all sit. What factors do you think are contributing to this increased gap?

Cancer affects all of us Melissa Lynn Lewis 1978-2009

Activity! Current statistics reveal that 1 in 3 Americans will develop cancer during their lifetimes. In this activity, however, each of the 30 people develops cancer. Using the numbers you counted off, get in groups and each person get an envelope and begin the lab with your group. Share your stories with the group and record your answers on own your lab sheet!