Epigenetic Mechanisms and Cancer Hallmarks
Epigenetic mechanisms - correct answer Processes regulating gene expression without altering
DNA sequence.
DNA methylation - correct answer Addition of methyl groups to DNA, affecting gene activity.
Histone modifications - correct answer Chemical alterations to histone proteins, influencing
chromatin structure.
Noncoding RNAs - correct answer RNA molecules that do not code for proteins, regulating gene
expression.
Chromatin structure - correct answer The arrangement of DNA and proteins in the nucleus.
Tumorigenesis - correct answer The process of tumor formation and development.
Hallmarks of cancer - correct answer Functional capabilities allowing cancer cells to thrive.
Sustaining proliferative signaling - correct answer Continuous stimulation of cell growth and
division.
Evading growth suppressors - correct answer Avoiding mechanisms that inhibit cell
proliferation.
Resisting cell death - correct answer Ability of cancer cells to avoid apoptosis.
Inducing angiogenesis - correct answer Formation of new blood vessels to supply tumors.
Activating invasion and metastasis - correct answer Spread of cancer cells to distant sites.
Enabling replicative immortality - correct answer Cancer cells' ability to divide indefinitely.
Deregulating cellular energetics - correct answer Altered energy production processes in cancer
cells.
Avoiding immune destruction - correct answer Cancer cells evading detection and elimination
by the immune system.
Genome instability - correct answer Increased tendency of genomic alterations in cancer cells.
Tumor-promoting inflammation - correct answer Chronic inflammation that supports tumor
growth.
Driver mutations - correct answer Genetic changes directly contributing to cancer progression.
Passenger mutations - correct answer Genetic changes that do not contribute to cancer.
Microenvironment - correct answer Surrounding cells and factors influencing tumor behavior.
Somatic mutations - correct answer Genetic alterations acquired during a person's lifetime.
,Cancer mortality - correct answer Death rate resulting from cancer-related diseases.
Hanahan and Weinberg - correct answer Researchers who defined the hallmarks of cancer.
DNA Methylation - correct answer Addition of methyl groups to DNA, affecting gene
expression.
Histone Modifications - correct answer Chemical changes to histone proteins, influencing
chromatin structure.
miRNA - correct answer Small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression post-
transcriptionally.
lncRNA - correct answer Long non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation and chromatin
remodeling.
Tumorigenesis - correct answer Process of tumor formation and development in cancer.
CpG Islands - correct answer Regions of DNA with high frequency of CG dinucleotides.
Hypermethylation - correct answer Increased methylation leading to gene silencing, common in
tumors.
Proto-oncogenes - correct answer Normal genes that can become oncogenes through
mutations.
Autocrine Signaling - correct answer Cells secrete factors that bind to their own receptors.
Tyrosine Kinase - correct answer Enzymes that phosphorylate tyrosine residues in proteins,
regulating signaling.
PTEN - correct answer Tumor suppressor gene that inhibits PI3K signaling pathway.
PI3K Signaling - correct answer Pathway promoting cell growth and survival, often dysregulated
in cancer.
Epigenetic Plasticity - correct answer Ability of cells to adapt gene expression without DNA
changes.
Chromatin Structure - correct answer Organization of DNA and histones affecting gene
accessibility.
Hallmarks of Cancer - correct answer Characteristics enabling tumor cells to thrive and
proliferate.
Cell Cycle Progression - correct answer Regulation of cell division and replication processes.
Negative Feedback Signals - correct answer Inhibitory signals that regulate cell proliferation and
growth.
, Oncogenic Properties - correct answer Characteristics that promote cancer cell growth and
survival.
External Signals - correct answer Environmental factors influencing cellular behavior and gene
expression.
Internal Signals - correct answer Cellular factors that regulate internal processes and responses.
Deregulation of Gene Expression - correct answer Loss of normal control over gene activity in
cells.
Chromatin Resistance - correct answer State of chromatin that inhibits gene expression and
differentiation.
Epigenetic plasticity - correct answer Allows abnormal cell fate changes in cancer.
Gene regulatory pathways - correct answer Control gene expression affecting cell behavior.
Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation - correct answer Common in gliomas, alters metabolic
pathways.
2-hydroxyglutarate - correct answer Oncometabolite that inhibits DNA demethylation.
CTCF protein - correct answer Insulates chromatin loops from enhancer stimulation.
PDGFRA oncogene - correct answer Encodes receptor linked to glioma cell proliferation.
Histone code - correct answer Regulates gene expression through histone modifications.
FGFR2 - correct answer Proto-oncogene linked to breast cancer susceptibility.
Histone modifications - correct answer Include methylation, phosphorylation, and
ubiquitination.
lncRNAs - correct answer Non-coding RNAs over 200 nucleotides long.
SRA - correct answer lncRNA that activates steroid hormone receptors.
ER/PR action - correct answer Altered in breast tumorigenesis due to SRA.
PCAT-1 - correct answer lncRNA overexpressed in advanced prostate tumors.
Cell cycle control - correct answer Regulated by lncRNAs and gene expression.
Growth suppressors - correct answer Negative regulators of cell division in cancer.
Rb protein - correct answer Key regulator preventing excessive cell cycle progression.
p53 pathway - correct answer Tumor suppressor pathway crucial for cell cycle control.
Epigenetic mechanisms - correct answer Processes regulating gene expression without altering
DNA sequence.
DNA methylation - correct answer Addition of methyl groups to DNA, affecting gene activity.
Histone modifications - correct answer Chemical alterations to histone proteins, influencing
chromatin structure.
Noncoding RNAs - correct answer RNA molecules that do not code for proteins, regulating gene
expression.
Chromatin structure - correct answer The arrangement of DNA and proteins in the nucleus.
Tumorigenesis - correct answer The process of tumor formation and development.
Hallmarks of cancer - correct answer Functional capabilities allowing cancer cells to thrive.
Sustaining proliferative signaling - correct answer Continuous stimulation of cell growth and
division.
Evading growth suppressors - correct answer Avoiding mechanisms that inhibit cell
proliferation.
Resisting cell death - correct answer Ability of cancer cells to avoid apoptosis.
Inducing angiogenesis - correct answer Formation of new blood vessels to supply tumors.
Activating invasion and metastasis - correct answer Spread of cancer cells to distant sites.
Enabling replicative immortality - correct answer Cancer cells' ability to divide indefinitely.
Deregulating cellular energetics - correct answer Altered energy production processes in cancer
cells.
Avoiding immune destruction - correct answer Cancer cells evading detection and elimination
by the immune system.
Genome instability - correct answer Increased tendency of genomic alterations in cancer cells.
Tumor-promoting inflammation - correct answer Chronic inflammation that supports tumor
growth.
Driver mutations - correct answer Genetic changes directly contributing to cancer progression.
Passenger mutations - correct answer Genetic changes that do not contribute to cancer.
Microenvironment - correct answer Surrounding cells and factors influencing tumor behavior.
Somatic mutations - correct answer Genetic alterations acquired during a person's lifetime.
,Cancer mortality - correct answer Death rate resulting from cancer-related diseases.
Hanahan and Weinberg - correct answer Researchers who defined the hallmarks of cancer.
DNA Methylation - correct answer Addition of methyl groups to DNA, affecting gene
expression.
Histone Modifications - correct answer Chemical changes to histone proteins, influencing
chromatin structure.
miRNA - correct answer Small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression post-
transcriptionally.
lncRNA - correct answer Long non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation and chromatin
remodeling.
Tumorigenesis - correct answer Process of tumor formation and development in cancer.
CpG Islands - correct answer Regions of DNA with high frequency of CG dinucleotides.
Hypermethylation - correct answer Increased methylation leading to gene silencing, common in
tumors.
Proto-oncogenes - correct answer Normal genes that can become oncogenes through
mutations.
Autocrine Signaling - correct answer Cells secrete factors that bind to their own receptors.
Tyrosine Kinase - correct answer Enzymes that phosphorylate tyrosine residues in proteins,
regulating signaling.
PTEN - correct answer Tumor suppressor gene that inhibits PI3K signaling pathway.
PI3K Signaling - correct answer Pathway promoting cell growth and survival, often dysregulated
in cancer.
Epigenetic Plasticity - correct answer Ability of cells to adapt gene expression without DNA
changes.
Chromatin Structure - correct answer Organization of DNA and histones affecting gene
accessibility.
Hallmarks of Cancer - correct answer Characteristics enabling tumor cells to thrive and
proliferate.
Cell Cycle Progression - correct answer Regulation of cell division and replication processes.
Negative Feedback Signals - correct answer Inhibitory signals that regulate cell proliferation and
growth.
, Oncogenic Properties - correct answer Characteristics that promote cancer cell growth and
survival.
External Signals - correct answer Environmental factors influencing cellular behavior and gene
expression.
Internal Signals - correct answer Cellular factors that regulate internal processes and responses.
Deregulation of Gene Expression - correct answer Loss of normal control over gene activity in
cells.
Chromatin Resistance - correct answer State of chromatin that inhibits gene expression and
differentiation.
Epigenetic plasticity - correct answer Allows abnormal cell fate changes in cancer.
Gene regulatory pathways - correct answer Control gene expression affecting cell behavior.
Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation - correct answer Common in gliomas, alters metabolic
pathways.
2-hydroxyglutarate - correct answer Oncometabolite that inhibits DNA demethylation.
CTCF protein - correct answer Insulates chromatin loops from enhancer stimulation.
PDGFRA oncogene - correct answer Encodes receptor linked to glioma cell proliferation.
Histone code - correct answer Regulates gene expression through histone modifications.
FGFR2 - correct answer Proto-oncogene linked to breast cancer susceptibility.
Histone modifications - correct answer Include methylation, phosphorylation, and
ubiquitination.
lncRNAs - correct answer Non-coding RNAs over 200 nucleotides long.
SRA - correct answer lncRNA that activates steroid hormone receptors.
ER/PR action - correct answer Altered in breast tumorigenesis due to SRA.
PCAT-1 - correct answer lncRNA overexpressed in advanced prostate tumors.
Cell cycle control - correct answer Regulated by lncRNAs and gene expression.
Growth suppressors - correct answer Negative regulators of cell division in cancer.
Rb protein - correct answer Key regulator preventing excessive cell cycle progression.
p53 pathway - correct answer Tumor suppressor pathway crucial for cell cycle control.
