Cancer in the Family Case Study

Multiple Choice

What was the initial advice given to Stacey by her step-dad regarding her knee pain?

• Rest and ice the knee for a few weeks

• Go to the emergency room immediately

• Start running more to strengthen the knee

• Ignore the pain and continue training

Open Ended

Why does Dr. Smith decide to order the x-ray?

Multiple Select

Based on the information from the story and the x-ray explanation, which of the following statements are correct about x-rays?

• Dense materials appear white in an x-ray

• Less dense materials appear black in an x-ray

• X-rays are only used for broken bones

• X-ray beams are absorbed differently by different materials

• X-rays repair bone damage

Open Ended

Compare and contrast Stacey’s x-ray with a normal x-ray. What differences do you notice?

Multiple Choice

Do you think that Stacy has normal growing pains?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

What is osteosarcoma?

• Osteosarcoma is a benign tumor found in the lungs.
• Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer.

• Osteosarcoma is a type of skin cancer.
• Osteosarcoma primarily affects elderly individuals.

Multiple Choice

What is the function of bones?

• Bones   are   primarily for storing fat

• Bones   are   responsible for digestion and nutrient uptake

• Bones  provide   our   bodies   with   structural   support   and   provide   a    framework.

• Bones  are responsible for vit D production.

Multiple Choice

What are the three types of bone cells?

• Osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteoclasts
• Adipocytes, macrophages, erythrocytes
• Chondrocytes, fibroblasts, myocytes
• Keratinocytes, melanocytes, fibroblasts

Multiple Choice

What is the function of osteoblasts?

• The function of osteoblasts is to build and mineralize bone.
• Osteoblasts break down bone tissue.
• Osteoblasts are responsible for muscle contraction.
• Osteoblasts transport oxygen in the blood.

Multiple Choice

What is the function of osteoclasts?

• to build and mineralize bone.

• break down bone tissue.

• responsible for muscle contraction.

• transport oxygen in the blood.

Multiple Choice

What are osteocytes?

• older osteoclasts

• older osteoblasts

• bone stem cells

• bone cancer cells

Open Ended

Describe the changes that occur in osteoblasts in patients with osteosarcoma compared to normal bone tissue.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about osteosarcoma is/are correct?

• Osteosarcoma is a cancer that affects bone cells called osteoblasts.

• Osteosarcoma is most common in older adults.

• Osteosarcoma often develops in areas of rapid bone growth.

• Osteosarcoma produces a stronger bone matrix than normal bone tissue.

Open Ended

Why do you think osteosarcoma is more common in teenagers?

Multiple Choice

Which   cellular   process   involves   glucose? 

• Cellular Respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Nutrient Absorption

• Fat formtion

Multiple Choice

Why   do   you   think   that   fluorodeoxyglucose   is   used   to   identify   cancer    in   the   body?   

• because cancer cells have a higher glucose uptake than normal cells.

• Fluorodeoxyglucose is primarily used for brain imaging.
• Cancer cells do not absorb glucose at all.
• Fluorodeoxyglucose is used to treat cancer directly.

Multiple Choice

According to Stacey's family health history, Stacey's mother was diagnosed with ___ cancer at age 31.

• breast
• brain

• she was not diagnosed with cancer

• liver

Multiple Choice

According to Stacey's family health history, Stacey's grandfather was diagnosed with ___ cancer.

• breast
• brain

• he was not diagnosed with cancer

• lung

How are cancer-causing mutations

inherited / passed down?

New mutations can occur in somatic cells OR germline

cells

Somatic cell = all cells that are NOT
in the germline making eggs/sperm
●Divides via mitosis

Germline cell = cells that develop into
egg, sperm (gametic, sex cells)
●Divides via meiosis

Only mutations in germline cells and gametes can be

inherited.

Multiple Choice

How many different alleles of BRCA1 does Angie have in the nucleus of one of her

breast cells?

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

Which of Angie’s cells carries a mutated allele of BRCA1?

• Only the gametes

• Only the breast cells

• All of her cells

  (except some of her gametes)

Multiple Choice

What is the probability that Angie passed on her BRCA1 mutation to her son?

• 0%

• 50% (1/2)

• 33% (1/3)

• 100%

Multiple Choice

What is the probability that Angie passed on her p53 mutation to her oldest daughter?

• 0%

• 50% (1/2)

• 33% (1/3)

• 100%

Multiple Choice

Based on this picture how do you think p53 acts to halt the cell cycle?

• p53 halts the cell cycle by binding to the DNA that would begin protein synthesis

• p53 enhances the activity of growth factors to stimulate cell division.
• p53 promotes the cell cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinases.
• p53 inhibits the cell cycle by degrading DNA.

Multiple Choice

What is transcription?

• Transcription is the process of translating RNA into DNA.
• Transcription is the process of synthesizing proteins from amino acids.
• Transcription is the process of replicating RNA into DNA.
• Transcription is the process of copying DNA into RNA.

Multiple Choice

What is translation?

• Translation is the conversion from mRNA to protein

• Translation is conversion of DNA to mRNA

• Translation is the copying of DNA

• Translation is the process of learning a new language.

Multiple Choice

Loss of the arginine 248 interaction most likely leads to

• Increased binding affinity for other residues.
• Improved enzymatic activity in the presence of arginine.
• Loss of protein function or altered activity.
• Enhanced stability of the protein structure.

Open Ended

After reading all this explain how loss of p53 function results in cancer formation?

Multiple Choice

What is a genetic counselor?

• A genetic counselor is a professional who offers guidance on genetic conditions and testing.
• A genetic counselor is a therapist who specializes in mental health.
• A genetic counselor is a type of geneticist who conducts research.
• A genetic counselor is a doctor who performs surgeries.

Multiple Select

What are the risks of genetic screening?

• Increased physical health problems

• psychological stress,

• Guaranteed accurate results
• Enhanced social acceptance
• discrimination and privacy concerns

Multiple Select

What are the benefits of genetic screening?

• Increased risk of genetic disorders
• Limited access to healthcare services
• Higher costs for medical treatments
• Benefits of genetic screening include early detection of genetic disorders

• Personalized treatment plans

Open Ended

If you were Stacy would you want to have the genetic testing?

Multiple Choice

What is NGS (Next Generation Sequencing)?

• A modern sequencing technology that enables rapid and cost-effective sequencing of DNA and RNA.

• A method for analyzing protein structures
• A technique for traditional DNA sequencing
• A process for cloning genes

Multiple Choice

In NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) how are mutations identified?

• Mutations are detected through manual sequencing techniques.
• Mutations are identified by analyzing protein structures.
• Mutations are identified by comparing sequenced reads to a reference genome

• Mutations are found by using traditional Sanger sequencing methods.

Multiple Choice

Does Stacy have Li-Fraumeni Syndrome?

• Yes

• No

• Still cannot tell

Open Ended

Now that we know Staci has Li-Fraumeni Syndrome what advice would you give her?