1. Theories of cancer genesis
1- Standard Dogma
Proto-oncogenes (Ras – melanoma)
Tumor suppressor genes (p53 – various cancers)
2- Modified Dogma
Mutation in a DNA repair gene leads to the accumulation of unrepaired mutations (xeroderma pigmentosum)
3- Early-Instability Theory
Master genes required for adequate cell reproduction are disabled, resulting in aneuploidy (Philadelphia chromosome)
Dr MOHAMED FAKHRY

2. CHROMOSOMAL REARRANGEMENTS OR TRANSLOCATIONS
Neoplasm Translocation Proto-oncogene
Burkitt lymphoma t(8;14) 80% of cases c-myc1
t(8;22) 15% of cases
t(2;8) % of cases
Chronic myelogenous t(9;22) 90-95% of cases bcr-abl2
leukemia
Acute lymphocytic t(9;22) 10-15% of cases bcr-abl2
Leukemia
1c-myc is translocated to the IgG locus, which results in its activated expression
2bcr-abl fusion protein is produced, which results in a constitutively active abl kinase
Dr MOHAMED FAKHRY

3. GENE AMPLIFICATION Oncogene Amplification Source of tumor
c-myc ~20-fold leukemia and lung carcinoma
N-myc ,000-fold neuroblastoma
retinoblastoma
c-abl ~5-fold chronic myoloid leukemia
K-ras fold colon carcinoma
30-60-fold adrenocortical carcinoma
Dr MOHAMED FAKHRY

4. Tumor suppressor genes
Normal function - inhibit cell proliferation
Tumor suppressor genes are genes that, when mutated, fail to repress cell division.
Absence/inactivation of inhibitor --> cancer
Both gene copies must be defective
Dr MOHAMED FAKHRY 2015

5. Knudson’s Two-Hit Hypothesis
When tumor suppressor genes are mutated, a predisposition to develop cancer often follows a dominant pattern of inheritance.
The mutation is usually a loss-of-function mutation in the tumor suppressor gene.
Cancer develops only if a second mutation in somatic cells knocks out the function of the wild-type allele.

7. KNUDSON’S TWO-HIT HYPOTHESIS IN FAMILIAL CASES
Familial RB (%30) RB rb
Normal cells rb RB rb RB
LOH
Inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene requires two mutations, inherited mutation and somatic mutation.
Tumor cells
Normal cells

8. KNUDSON’S TWO-HIT HYPOTHESIS IN SPORADIC CASESRB
LOH
Mutation
Normal
Cells RB RB
Hit= إصابة أو ضرب
Inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene requires two somatic mutations.
Tumor cells

9. TUMOR SUPPRESSOR GENES
Disorders in which gene is affected
Gene (locus) Function Familial Sporadic
DCC (18q) cell surface unknown colorectal
interactions cancer
WT1 (11p) transcription Wilm’s tumor lung cancer
Rb1 (13q) transcription retinoblastoma small-cell lung
carcinoma
p53 (17p) transcription Li-Fraumeni breast, colon,
syndrome & lung cancer
BRCA1(17q) transcriptional breast cancer breast/ovarian
tumors
BRCA2 (13q) regulator/DNA repair

10. Rb gene Rb protein controls cell cycle moving past G1 checkpoint
Rb protein binds regulatory transcription factor E2F
E2F required for synthesis of replication enzymes
E2F - Rb bound = no transcription/replication
Growth factor --> Ras pathway
--> G1Cdk-cyclin synthesized
Active G1 Cdk-cyclin kinase phosphorylates Rb
Phosphorylated Rb cannot bind E2F --> S phase
Disruption/deletion of Rb gene
Inactivation of Rb protein
--> uncontrolled cell proliferation --> cancer

11. Verification of the Two-Hit Hypothesis for Retinoblastoma
Several cases of retinoblastoma are associated with a small deletion in chromosome 13q. Mapping refined the RB locus to 13q14.2.
Positional cloning was used to isolate a candidate RB gene that encodes a protein that interact with transcription factors that regulate the cell cycle.
In retinoblastoma cells, both copies of this gene were inactivated.
In cell culture, expression of a wild-type RB allele could revert the phenotype of cancer cells.

12. Cellular Roles of Tumor Suppressor Proteins
The proteins encoded by tumor suppressor genes are involved in:
cell division,
cell differentiation,
programmed cell death,
DNA repair.

13. p53 Phosphyorylated p53 activates transcription of p21 gene
p21 Cdk inhibitor (binds Cdk-cyclin complex --> inhibits kinase activity)
Cell cycle arrested to allow
DNA to be repaired
If damage cannot be repaired
--> cell death (apoptosis)
Disruption/deletion of p53 gene
Inactivation of p53 protein
--> uncorrected DNA damage
--> uncontrolled cell proliferation --> cancer

14. The Cellular Function of p53
Expression of p53 is very low in normal cells.
Expression of p53 increases in response to DNA damage due to a decrease in degradation.
p53 can inhibit cell division or induce apoptosis.

15. [ increase ]
p-p53

16. Theories of cancer genesis
1- Standard Dogma
Proto-oncogenes (Ras – melanoma)
Tumor suppressor genes (p53 – various cancers)
2- Modified Dogma
Mutation in a DNA repair gene leads to the accumulation of unrepaired mutations (xeroderma pigmentosum)
3- Early-Instability Theory
Master genes required for adequate cell reproduction are disabled, resulting in aneuploidy (Philadelphia chromosome)
Dr MOHAMED FAKHRY

17. DNA REPAIR GENES
These are genes that ensure each strand of genetic information is accurately copied during cell division of the cell cycle.
Mutations in DNA repair genes lead to an increase in the frequency of mutations in other genes, such as proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
i.e. Breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2)
Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer susceptibility genes (MSH2, MLH1, PMS1, PMS2) have DNA repair functions. Their mutation will cause tumorigenesis.

18. IMPORTANCE OF DNA REPAIR

19. pBRCA1 and pBRCA2 regulate DNA repair
Mutations in the tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 have been implicated in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Both genes encode proteins that are localized in the nucleus and have transcriptional activation domains.
pBRCA1 and pBRCA2 may be involved in DNA repair in human cells.

20. Theories of cancer genesis
1- Standard Dogma
Proto-oncogenes (Ras – melanoma)
Tumor suppressor genes (p53 – various cancers)
2- Modified Dogma
Mutation in a DNA repair gene leads to the accumulation of unrepaired mutations (xeroderma pigmentosum)
3- Early-Instability Theory
Master genes required for adequate cell reproduction are disabled, resulting in aneuploidy (Philadelphia chromosome)
Dr MOHAMED FAKHRY

21. Chromosome Rearrangements: The Philadelphia Chromosome
The Philadelphia chromosome is the result of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 with breakpoints in the c-abl gene on chromosome 9 and the c-bcr gene on chromosome 22.
The fusion gene created by this rearrangement encodes a tyrosine kinase that promotes cancer in white blood cells.

22. Translocation and Bcr-Abl fusion in CML

23. The Philadelphia Chromosome

24. Smart bullet STI-571 lockes itself to the target molecule

25. Chromosomal Rearrangements:Burkitt’s Lymphoma
Burkitt’s lymphoma is associated with reciprocal translocations involving chromosome 8 and a chromosome carrying an immunoglobulin gene (2, 14, or 22).
The translocations juxtapose c-myc to the genes for the immunoglobulin genes, causing overexpression of c-myc in B cells.
The c-myc gene encodes a transcription factor that activates genes for cell division.

26. A Reciprocal Translocation Involved in Burkitt’s Lymphoma

27. Genetic Pathways to Cancer
Cancers develop through an accumulation of somatic (not a single) mutations in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Dr MOHAMED FAKHRY

28. Multiple Mutations in Cancer
Most malignant tumors cannot be attributed to mutation of a single gene.
Tumor formation, growth, and metastasis depend on the accumulation of mutations in several different genes.
The genetic pathways to cancer are diverse and complex.

29. Tumor Progression
Cellular
Multiple mutations lead to colon cancer Genetic changes --> tumor changes

30. Hallmarks of Pathways to Malignant Cancer
Cancer cells have self-sufficiency in the signaling processes that stimulate division and growth.
Cancer cells are abnormally insensitive to inhibitory signals of growth.
Cancer cells can escape programmed cell death (apoptosis).

31. Cancer cells have not limit of replication potential.
Cancer cells develop ways to grow themselves.
Cancer cells acquire the ability to invade other tissues and colonize them.