Transformed Cells

Front 1

1. Growth cell autonomy

Back 1

Cancer cells are not dependent on growth signalling factor in order to divide. Transformed cells escape normal regulatory control.

Hint 1

Growth signalling factors, regulatory control, cell division

Front 2

2). Evasion of inhibitory signals

Back 2

Transformed cells can evade growth inhibitory signals through mutation in the cell that interfere with inhibitory pathways. This means they are able to keep growing and dividing despite growth inhibitory signals

Hint 2

Ignore growth inhibitory signals, mutations in transformed cell, interfere with inhibitory pathways.

Front 3

3). Ability to invade other tissues

Back 3

Transformed cells have the ability to invade other tissues therefore metastasise. This is due to the mutations in the cell's adhesion proteins which enables them to adhere to other cells.

Hint 3

Adherence, metastasise, invasion.

Front 4

4). Replica give immortality

Back 4

Transformed cells can avoid senescence which is normal in somatic cells. In transformed cells the telomeres remain intact due to the action of telomerase. Telomerase contains it's own RNA template to add TTAGGG repeats to telomeres. Telomerase has low activity in normal somatic cells so the cells eventually senescence and die, however in transformed cells it's activity is high and transformed cells can also produce their own telomerase. This allows the cells to divide indefinitely and evade apoptosis, there making them immortal. Cancer cells require a mechanism to maintain their telomeric DNA in order to continue dividing indefinitely (immortalization). A mechanism for telomere elongation or maintenance is one of the key steps in cellular immortalization and can be used as a diagnostic marker in the clinic. Telomerase, the enzyme complex responsible for elongating telomeres, is activated in approximately 90% of tumors. However, a sizeable fraction of cancerous cells employ alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), a non-conservative telomere lengthening pathway involving the transfer of telomere tandem repeats between sister chromatids.

Hint 4

Telomeres, telomerase, TTAGGG, self production, no senescence, immortality.

Front 5

5). Induction of an angiogenesis

Back 5

Transformed cells induce angiogenesis to occur, supplying them with nutrients and oxygen for survival and growth.

Hint 5

Nutrients, oxygen, survival, growth.

Front 6

6). Resist PCD

Back 6

Transformed cells can resist programmed cell death by evading apoptotic signals which normal somatic cells respond to. This allows them to stay alive and keep growing and dividing.

Hint 6

Avoid, apoptotic signals