Genetics of Cancer Assignment
1. Oncogene expression was first observed in cancer cells. Explain the role of oncogene products in normal, noncancerous cells.
2. Some newer cancer therapies inhibit the activity of tyrosine kinases (TKs). How would this mechanism affect tumors?
3. What would be the potential outcome of a procedure that could stop the expression (turn off) of all oncogenes?
4. Case Study A: Barbara is 56 and has two daughters and one son. She has just been diagnosed with a ―recurrence‖ of the lobular breast cancer treated by lumpectomy and radiation 4 years ago. Her father (Aaron) is still living at age 82, and her mother (Ann) died of ovarian cancer at age 36 (diagnosed at age 34). Her sister, Bonnie, was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago at age 32 and died 2 years after diagnosis. She was married and has no children. Her brother, Brett, now age 45, underwent surgery and chemotherapy last year for breast cancer. He has one son and one daughter who are teenagers.
Her mother had one sister, Amy, who died of ―abdominal‖ cancer when she was 34, and one brother, Allen, who died of bone cancer at age 41. Her father’s twin brothers died at Bergen-Belsen during World War II. Barbara’s daughter Connie is 30 and was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She has two sons ages 1 year and 3 years. Barbara’s other daughter, Catherine, is 32. Barbara’s son, Carl, is 26. Neither Catherine nor Carl have any evidence of disease.
a. Draw the pedigree
b. Identify the specific pattern of inheritance (if any) indicated for this family.
c. Indicate what criteria the pedigree presents that support the correct pattern of inheritance for this health problem.
d. Identify who in this kindred could benefit from genetic testing at this time, and provide a rationale for your choice.
e. If genetic testing is pursued, who would be the best person to test first?
5. Case Study B: Martin is 68 and diagnosed with colon cancer. His sister (age 65) was diagnosed with colon cancer last year. They have one maternal aunt (age 90) and one paternal aunt (age 75) with breast cancer. One maternal uncle (age 72) had colorectal cancer, and one paternal uncle has prostate cancer (age 75). A maternal great-aunt died of childhood leukemia (age 12). A second maternal great-aunt died of breast cancer (age 69). A maternal great-uncle died of lung cancer (age 64).
a. Draw the pedigree
b. What is the pattern of inheritance, if any?
c. Indicate what criteria the pedigree presents that support the correct pattern of inheritance for this health problem?
d. Identify who in this kindred could benefit from genetic testing at this time, and provide a rationale for your choice.
Indicate the question you pick. Cite at least 4 references no older than (2020) or 3 years relevant to the discussion topic/questions. APA 7.
