There are many differences between cancer cells and normal cells

There are many differences between cancer cells and normal cells. Some of the differences are well known, whereas others have only been recently discovered and are less well understood. For researchers, understanding how cancer cells function differently from normal cells lays the foundation for developing treatments designed to rid the body of cancer cells without damaging normal cells.

In your own words, explain how cancer cells differ from normal cells regarding one (1) of the following factors or one of the hallmarks or cancer:

•Telomeres
•Cell to cell communication
•Apoptosis
•Molecular controls of the cell cycle (choose one):
•Cdk and Cdk/cyclin complexes
•p53 gene/protein
•Rb gene/protein
•allmarks of Cancer:
•Immortality
•Producing go signals
•verriding stop signals
•sisting cell death

Use what you have learned from this week's learning resources to briefly explain the chosen factor or hallmark in your own words. Include at least one reference to one of the learning resources in APA format.

In addition, search the Science Daily website, the UMGC library or Google Scholar to find one article that is relevant to the factor/hallmark you are describing. Share one interesting thing you learned from this article. Include a reference to the resource in APA format.

Then answer the following:

1.Which of these factors or hallmarks of cancer do you think would be the ultimate target for cancer therapy and why?
2.Include the factor/hallmark you are describing in the title of your main response.

Full Answer Section

       
  • Cancer cells achieve this through the activation of an enzyme called telomerase, which adds DNA repeats to the ends of chromosomes, counteracting the shortening that occurs during cell division.

Reference:

Additional Research:

  • Article: Shay, J. W., & Bacchetti, S. (1997). A survey of telomerase activity in human cancer. European Journal of Cancer, 33(suppl 1), S79-S85.

Interesting Finding:

  • This article highlights the significant role of telomerase in a wide range of human cancers, emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic target. It discusses how telomerase inhibitors can potentially block tumor growth by preventing telomere lengthening and inducing cell death.

1. Which of these factors or hallmarks of cancer do you think would be the ultimate target for cancer therapy and why?

While several hallmarks of cancer offer potential targets for therapy, inhibiting telomerase could be a highly effective strategy.

  • Selectivity: Telomerase is typically inactive in most normal adult cells but highly active in cancer cells. This provides a potential window for selectively targeting cancer cells without harming normal tissues.
  • Broad Impact: Telomerase inhibition could potentially impact a wide range of cancers, as telomere maintenance is crucial for the survival of many tumor types.
  • Long-term effects: By preventing telomere lengthening, telomerase inhibitors could induce replicative senescence or apoptosis in cancer cells, leading to long-term tumor regression.
   

Sample Answer

       

Telomeres: A Key Difference Between Cancer Cells and Normal Cells

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes. They act like protective caps, preventing chromosome ends from fraying, fusing with other chromosomes, or triggering cellular damage.

In normal cells:

  • Telomeres gradually shorten with each cell division, eventually leading to cell senescence (aging) or apoptosis (programmed cell death). This mechanism prevents uncontrolled cell growth and helps maintain genomic stability.

In cancer cells:

  • Telomeres are typically maintained or even lengthened. This "immortality" allows cancer cells to divide indefinitely, leading to uncontrolled growth and tumor formation.