Cambridge Chat (previously New Cambridge Students Entry 2004)

"i want that one" and "eh eh ehhhhhh" were the main catchphrases of the natsci arran B trip. every so often we had a complete rendition of a random andy and lou sketch courtesy of caius, christs and fitz ppl. little britain rules.

Hell yes - bounces around the stage like a loon, talking about the most complex stuff but somehow making it comprehensible.


Cancer cells have several characteristics different from normal cells - they are dividing rapidly, often have incomplete genomes and therefore partial surface protein expression, they are unresponsive to growth inhibitors and their DNA damage/repair mechanisms are buggered basically.

There are several intracellular signalling pathways that can lead a cell to go into apoptosis. In cancer cells apoptosis is turned off in these cells due to mutations in genes coding proteins in one or more of these pathways so that ineffective proteins are made and the pathways can't be completed. However, in most cancer cells there are still SOME potential pathways available that would work; it's finding out which they are and working out how to activate them in just those cells that is the key.

Prof Wyllie is head of the Dept of Pathology and back in the 70s was the first person to describe apoptosis as an alternative method of cell death (previously necrosis was the only one known about) - since then both he and many others have done massive amounts in elucidating the mechanisms behind it and what happens when it goes wrong.

Prof Wyllie sounds like a cool lecturer!

You know, if there're other apoptosis pathways that still work, why don't the cell activate those? Would you be able to target just those cancer cells with recognising carrier proteins etc - although I'd imagine you need to do more than just that to target JUST the cancer cells? And when is a tumour "cancer" and when is it just a tumour? (what are the terms again? Maglinant and something else?) What makes the cancer spread etc?

Hehe sorry to everyone else for interrupting everyone with all this science stuff

*hopes Helenia keeps on replying*

Gosh, right...

The other apoptotic pathways are not activated because the cell has lost its DNA damage sensing mechanism and doesn't "realise" there is something wrong and that it needs to die. They are only activated under certain stimuli and if these aren't present, they won't activate - the key is finding the trigger to these. Current therapy involves simply targetting rapidly-dividing cells (hence fairly horrific GI side effects and problems with skin/hair). There's a long way to go yet.

Re. when does something become cancer: The two you mean are malignant and benign. A benign tumour is one that just sits and grows, within its own capsule, not invading surrounding tissue. These can be absolutely fine for years, but can cause problems if in an enclosed space (brain) where they cause compression on surrounding tissue, or if they become malignant.

Malignancy is the ability to invade surrounding tissues and disseminate in the blood and lymphatic system. This causes problems because even if the primary tumour is removed/destroyed, secondaries may still remain and can be fatal.

Hope that helps - and don't worry, a bit of science is just balancing out the pages and pages of compsci we used to have!

hmph *seeks out kelly and richyrich for artsy farty talk*

Iris, I continue to suggest you get a textbook or just look on the internet. I'm sure Helen doesn't mind telling you, but I think you'd find it interesting to be able to read up on it for yourself. Get yourself a good intro textbook from the library (or buy one online, you don't really need a super up to date edition for this kind of stuff) and give yourself a head start for next year. Your library can order you any book from the Brit. Library (pretty much) for about £2 if no libraries in your area have it.

also: how do you plan to specialise in Oncology, but have that separate from Medicine ("I might go for Oncology or even Medicine...")

Are there any theories as to just what causes apoptosis - eg, a specific trigger to a specific pathway? - and what are these theories?

But when/how do these cells develop the ability to invade other cells etc? - why would it do that? I think I read somewhere usually it is the secondary cancer (whatever the official term) that causes the death.

How would pressure on surrounding tissue affect the brain? Cut off blood supplies and then cause brain damage I presume? Is it possible to treat brain cancers? - I'd imagine there obviously are treatments but I mean, how high are the success rates etc? How would you treat brain cancers?

Out of interest - what would be classed as a tumour? - it'd be abnormally growing rapidly and not stop, DNA damage etc. I dunno I'm just wondering if there's anymore to tumours than just an out of control and rapidly dividing lump, on the surface of organs or maybe within organs? Hope I'm not sounding stupid here now

Well, if she's just doing research, though I'm not sure that would really be called oncology - or if that's just the name for the medical branch of it.

also: how do you plan to specialise in Oncology, but have that separate from Medicine ("I might go for Oncology or even Medicine...")