Question

What is the general requirement of tumour formation in multiple mitogenic components?

Answer 1

Tumour formation:

1. The cancerous cells continuously divide and give rise to masses of cells.
2. These masses of cells are known as tumours.
3. Formation of tumour requires mutations in multiple mitogenic components.
4. For example: In a mouse fibroblast, the activation of both Ras and Myc is more tumorigenic than the activation of either protein alone. Additional mutations in mitogen receptors and pRB are more effective.
5. A mitogen is a little bioactive protein or peptide that prompts cell division or speeds up the mitosis process.
6. In mitogenic signalling, each component governs a partly non-overlapping subset of functions.
7. Each component has functions in cellular processes such as cell growth and survival.
8. Thus, mutational activation of each component provides an additional selective advantage during tumour evolution.