Which of the following statements are correct regarding cancer? (i) Mutations in tumour suppressor genes are linked with cancer. (ii) Cancer cells have low telomerase activity. (iii) Radiotherapy is the irradiation of cancer cells to destroy their genetic material. (iv) Alpha interferons are used for treatment. (v) Non-ionizing radiations like X rays and gamma rays cause DNA damage leading to neoplastic transformation.

Question

Which of the following statements are correct regarding cancer? (i) Mutations in tumour suppressor genes are linked with cancer. (ii) Cancer cells have low telomerase activity. (iii) Radiotherapy is the irradiation of cancer cells to destroy their genetic material. (iv) Alpha interferons are used for treatment. (v) Non-ionizing radiations like X rays and gamma rays cause DNA damage leading to neoplastic transformation. (A) (i), (ii) and (iii) (B) (i), (iii) and (iv) (C) (ii), (iii) and (v) (D) (iii), (iv) and (v)

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Cancer cells have high telomerase activity. The ability to maintain functional telomeres may be the mechanism that allows cancer cells to grow in vitro for decades. Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase type enzyme with its RNA molecule which is used as a template when it elongates telomeres. Telomerase is active in gametes and cancerous cells and absents in normal cells. Telomerase activity is essential to preserve many cancer types and is inactive in the somatic cells. It creates the possibility that telomerase inhibition could selectively repress cancer cell growth with minimal side effects.

If a drug or mutation can inhibit telomerase in cancer cells, the telomeres of successive generations will shorten, hence limiting tumour growth. Whereas, ionizing radiations such as X rays and gamma rays cause DNA damage, leads to neoplastic transformation.