CANC 380 MODULE 3 (2026) EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
What does TME stand for? - Answers Tumor Microenvironment
What are the main components of the tumor microenvironment? - Answers Cellular components,
extracellular components (ECM), and physical parameters (temperature, interstitial pressure, pH,
oxygen level).
How do cancer cells interact with the tumor microenvironment? - Answers Through continuous
communication mediated by cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, inflammatory molecules, and
matrix-remodelling enzymes.
What role do immune cells play in the TME? - Answers They can promote or inhibit tumor growth
depending on their interactions with cancer cells.
What is angiogenesis? - Answers The formation of new blood vessels from existing ones, necessary for
tumor growth.
What are angiogenic inducers? - Answers Substances that promote blood vessel growth, such as VEGF
and bFGF.
What are angiogenic inhibitors? - Answers Substances that prevent unnecessary vessel growth, such
as thrombospondin-1 and angiostatin.
What is lymphangiogenesis? - Answers The formation of new lymphatic vessels, which is common in
cancer.
What is the significance of pericytes in the TME? - Answers They provide vessel stability, control
permeability, and regulate endothelial adhesion molecules.
What is the impact of hypoxia on tumors? - Answers It is associated with increased invasion,
metastasis, and therapy resistance.
What causes hypoxia in solid tumors? - Answers Oxygen diffusion limits, high metabolic activity,
abnormal blood vessels, and vessel destruction from therapy.
What is the HIF-1 pathway? - Answers A pathway that regulates gene expression in response to
hypoxia, involving HIF-1a and HIF-1B.
What happens to HIF-1a under normoxic conditions? - Answers It is degraded by pVHL, an E3
ubiquitin ligase.
What is the role of HIF-1 in tumorigenesis? - Answers It regulates gene expression that promotes
angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immune evasion.
What is VHL syndrome? - Answers A hereditary condition caused by inactivation of both pVHL alleles,
leading to a high risk of various tumors.
What is the consequence of low pericyte coverage in tumors? - Answers It leads to leaky vessels,
convoluted vasculature, poor prognosis, and increased metastasis.
What is the effect of tumor angiogenesis on drug delivery? - Answers Abnormal tumor blood vessels
can compromise drug delivery and contribute to hypoxia.
What are some examples of TME-targeted therapies? - Answers Immune checkpoint blockade, anti-
angiogenesis therapy, reprogramming immunosuppressive TME, and ECM depletion.
What is the relationship between angiogenesis and tumor growth? - Answers Increased blood supply
through angiogenesis supports aggressive tumor growth.
How does hypoxia influence gene expression in tumors? - Answers It induces genes for glucose
metabolism, angiogenesis, invasion, and immune evasion.
What is the role of VEGF in tumor blood vessels? - Answers VEGF is a central driver of abnormal
vasculature, leading to leaky and disorganized blood vessels.
What is the significance of the balance between angiogenic inducers and inhibitors? - Answers It
allows precise control of blood vessel growth in response to tissue needs.
What are the consequences of leaky tumor blood vessels? - Answers They can lead to high interstitial
pressure and compromise tumor cell survival.
What is the impact of tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAF) in the TME? - Answers They contribute to
the structural and functional characteristics of the tumor microenvironment.
What is the function of lymphatic vessels in cancer? - Answers They facilitate lymphogenous
metastasis and transport immune cells.
What role does acetylation of lysine (K) 532 by ARD-1 play in ubiquitination? - Answers It facilitates
pVHL binding.
What is the outcome of ubiquitination on HIF-1a? - Answers It targets HIF-1a for proteasome
degradation.
What does TME stand for? - Answers Tumor Microenvironment
What are the main components of the tumor microenvironment? - Answers Cellular components,
extracellular components (ECM), and physical parameters (temperature, interstitial pressure, pH,
oxygen level).
How do cancer cells interact with the tumor microenvironment? - Answers Through continuous
communication mediated by cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, inflammatory molecules, and
matrix-remodelling enzymes.
What role do immune cells play in the TME? - Answers They can promote or inhibit tumor growth
depending on their interactions with cancer cells.
What is angiogenesis? - Answers The formation of new blood vessels from existing ones, necessary for
tumor growth.
What are angiogenic inducers? - Answers Substances that promote blood vessel growth, such as VEGF
and bFGF.
What are angiogenic inhibitors? - Answers Substances that prevent unnecessary vessel growth, such
as thrombospondin-1 and angiostatin.
What is lymphangiogenesis? - Answers The formation of new lymphatic vessels, which is common in
cancer.
What is the significance of pericytes in the TME? - Answers They provide vessel stability, control
permeability, and regulate endothelial adhesion molecules.
What is the impact of hypoxia on tumors? - Answers It is associated with increased invasion,
metastasis, and therapy resistance.
What causes hypoxia in solid tumors? - Answers Oxygen diffusion limits, high metabolic activity,
abnormal blood vessels, and vessel destruction from therapy.
What is the HIF-1 pathway? - Answers A pathway that regulates gene expression in response to
hypoxia, involving HIF-1a and HIF-1B.
What happens to HIF-1a under normoxic conditions? - Answers It is degraded by pVHL, an E3
ubiquitin ligase.
What is the role of HIF-1 in tumorigenesis? - Answers It regulates gene expression that promotes
angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immune evasion.
What is VHL syndrome? - Answers A hereditary condition caused by inactivation of both pVHL alleles,
leading to a high risk of various tumors.
What is the consequence of low pericyte coverage in tumors? - Answers It leads to leaky vessels,
convoluted vasculature, poor prognosis, and increased metastasis.
What is the effect of tumor angiogenesis on drug delivery? - Answers Abnormal tumor blood vessels
can compromise drug delivery and contribute to hypoxia.
What are some examples of TME-targeted therapies? - Answers Immune checkpoint blockade, anti-
angiogenesis therapy, reprogramming immunosuppressive TME, and ECM depletion.
What is the relationship between angiogenesis and tumor growth? - Answers Increased blood supply
through angiogenesis supports aggressive tumor growth.
How does hypoxia influence gene expression in tumors? - Answers It induces genes for glucose
metabolism, angiogenesis, invasion, and immune evasion.
What is the role of VEGF in tumor blood vessels? - Answers VEGF is a central driver of abnormal
vasculature, leading to leaky and disorganized blood vessels.
What is the significance of the balance between angiogenic inducers and inhibitors? - Answers It
allows precise control of blood vessel growth in response to tissue needs.
What are the consequences of leaky tumor blood vessels? - Answers They can lead to high interstitial
pressure and compromise tumor cell survival.
What is the impact of tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAF) in the TME? - Answers They contribute to
the structural and functional characteristics of the tumor microenvironment.
What is the function of lymphatic vessels in cancer? - Answers They facilitate lymphogenous
metastasis and transport immune cells.
What role does acetylation of lysine (K) 532 by ARD-1 play in ubiquitination? - Answers It facilitates
pVHL binding.
What is the outcome of ubiquitination on HIF-1a? - Answers It targets HIF-1a for proteasome
degradation.
