03 Jul WAR ON CANCER
Cancer is an unqualified enemy of the living world costing both in emotional turmoil and in
thousands of careers invested in diagnosis, treatment, and research. Cancer is a broad collection
of molecular disease states characterized by cells that divide in an uncontrolled fashion and that
no longer respect their role or confinement within their tissue of origin. Despite the many
environmental, hereditary, viral, dietary, and chemical causes of cancer, they all have one
common root cause: mutational changes in genes that control cell division. What is the scientific
community doing to attempt to eliminate the most common forms of cancer that are ravaging
society?
INSTRUCTIONS
Read the course text chapter 8 sections 8.1-8.4 on cell division, then specifically the last
section (8.6) on how cells become cancerous. This is the context for completing the War
on Cancer Assignment.
Watch the Presentation “Ways to Fight Cancer.” Notice that the presentation outlines
essentially 3 approaches to fighting cancer: a) reduction of cancer risks, b) correction of
cancer genes, and c) destruction of cancerous tissue.
Open the “War on Cancer – 10 Discoveries” document. Study the discoveries. Then,
open the assignment submission link in the text box and number from 1 to 10.
Reflect carefully on discovery 1. Would this discovery be more useful for a) reducing
cancer risks, b) correcting/restoring cancer cells to normal, or c) destroying cancerous
tissue? After number 1 in your list, place the letter representing the approach to fighting
cancer that would best be served by this new discovery. Place only 1 letter for each
number. (More than 1 approach may be served, but which one is most likely to be helped
most significantly?)
Repeat this analysis for each of the remaining 9 discoveries. Return to the “Ways to Fight
Cancer” presentation as needed for additional perspective. When finished, your
assignment should be a numbered (1-10) list of letters (a), (b) or (c).
WAR ON CANCER: 10 DISCOVERIES
1. Malignant brain tumors in adults are fast-growing cancers with median survival rates of 15
months, even with aggressive treatment. Researchers have been searching for genetic
“signatures” (characteristic groups of cancer-causing genes) that could help in defining the
kind of brain tumor the patient has. They hope to be better able to predict the course of the
disease and more accurately design the patient’s course of treatment.
2. Immunologists are working with a mutation (HER2) that is expressed on the surface of
many breasts, bladder, pancreatic, and ovarian cancer cells. They have made antibodies
against this mutant surface protein. These antibodies have been covalently bonded to a
“gene expression vector” that makes cells light up when incubated with luciferin from
fireflies. The vector takes the gene for luciferin into the cancer cells. The researchers have
shown that their antibody can accurately find and “light up” cancer cells. Their next step is
to bond the antibody to an expression vector that carries the normal HER2 gene into
mutant cancer cells.
3. Virologists are modifying lentiviruses as vectors for carrying proto-oncogenes into cancer-
transformed cells in culture. They are developing this virus for inserting the ras proto-
oncogene directly into its correct location in the genome. The correct ras gene will already
be linked to human DNA on either side of it and complexed with a recombination enzyme
that will insert it into its correct location within the human genome. At the same time, the
recombination enzyme will excise the defective oncogenic form of ras. The cells in
culture should again come under normal hormonal control and require extra-cellular
signals in order to continue dividing.
4. Organic chemists are exploring structural variations of the organic compound avobenzone
(1-[4-Methoxyphenyl]-3-[4-tert-butylphenyl] propane-1,3-dione) for inclusion in sunblock
products. Avobenzone is known for its ability to absorb a broad spectrum of ultra-violet
radiations including UVB light (known to enhance the frequency of basal cell and
squamous cell carcinomas [skin cancers]); and UVA rays thought to increase the
frequency of melanoma cancers. New variations in the structure of avobenzone are hoped
to retain the ability to absorb harmful UV radiation while having an increased stability in
the presence of that radiation.
5. Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. It is a risk factor
for lung cancer and several other types of cancer. Results of analysis of the entire human
gene collection (the “genome”) support some previous findings that a region of human
chromosome number 15 contains one or more genes that are associated with smoking
intensity (the number of cigarettes smoked per day) and the closely related trait of nicotine
dependency. Lung cancer associated with smoking Scanning people’s genomes for these
genes will help them to determine their risk of addiction should they begin smoking
tobacco.
6. Immunologists are investigating ways to destroy lymphocytes (white blood cells of the
immune system) that have become cancerous (lymphomas). A current drug Rituxamab
BIOL 101
Page 2 of 2
contains antibodies that bind to the surfaces of these lymphocytes setting them up for
destruction by the cancer patient’s own immune system. They are currently seeking ways
to modify the antibody’s structure so that it will attract the cancer patient’s “natural killer”
(NK) cells to the lymphocytes. Success of this project will bring a multi-faceted immune
response against lymphomas and hasten destruction.
7. Molecular biologists have developed a new sequence of human genes called an ankyrin
insulator sequence. A new corrected or therapeutic gene is placed within this sequence. Its
role is to make an active area on a human chromosome where the new gene can work
efficiently no matter what chromosome it lands on.
8. Biochemists are analyzing the many, many components of red meat (beef and pork) to
determine which component, if any, will cause increased colorectal cancer rates in mice
when the component is administered orally. Studies have shown that higher colorectal
cancer rates in humans are associated with higher consumption rates of red meat.
9. Molecular biologists have taken nanoparticle-sized spheres and used them to deliver a
cell-killing toxin from bee venom to tumors in mice, substantially reducing tumor growth
without harming normal body tissues. Nanoparticles are known to concentrate in solid
tumors because blood vessels in tumors show “enhanced permeability and retention
effect” or EPR. Hence substances such as nanoparticles escape more readily from the
bloodstream into tumors and the generally poor drainage of lymph from tumors further
helps trap the particles in tumor tissue.
10. Biochemists have discovered a protein kinase enzyme named BRAF that is an important
link in a molecular pathway that causes a cell to divide. Normally, BRAF responds to
signals coming from outside the cell—signals calling for the cell to divide normally under
normal conditions. But there is a mutation in BRAF enzymes that causes it to activate the
cell toward division continually. In this way it gives rise to melanomas and thyroid or
ovarian cancers. Biochemists have also found a drug, vemurafenib, which binds
selectively to mutant BRAF totally inactivating it. Cells that have inactivated BRAF
undergo apoptosis—a process that leads to cell death.
Our website has a team of professional writers who can help you write any of your homework. They will write your papers from scratch. We also have a team of editors just to make sure all papers are of HIGH QUALITY & PLAGIARISM FREE. To make an Order you only need to click Ask A Question and we will direct you to our Order Page at WriteDemy. Then fill Our Order Form with all your assignment instructions. Select your deadline and pay for your paper. You will get it few hours before your set deadline.
Fill in all the assignment paper details that are required in the order form with the standard information being the page count, deadline, academic level and type of paper. It is advisable to have this information at hand so that you can quickly fill in the necessary information needed in the form for the essay writer to be immediately assigned to your writing project. Make payment for the custom essay order to enable us to assign a suitable writer to your order. Payments are made through Paypal on a secured billing page. Finally, sit back and relax.
About Wridemy
We are a professional paper writing website. If you have searched a question and bumped into our website just know you are in the right place to get help in your coursework. We offer HIGH QUALITY & PLAGIARISM FREE Papers.
How It Works
To make an Order you only need to click on “Order Now” and we will direct you to our Order Page. Fill Our Order Form with all your assignment instructions. Select your deadline and pay for your paper. You will get it few hours before your set deadline.
Are there Discounts?
All new clients are eligible for 20% off in their first Order. Our payment method is safe and secure.