CANCER BIOLOGYResearch Advocacy Training and Support Program

Our  webinar  will  begin  shortly.  

WELCOME!

• Speaker(s):  Dan  A.  Dixon,  PhD  and  Nancy  Roach,  Fight  CRC  Founder  and  Cancer  Advocate

• Archived  Webinars:    FightColorectalCancer.org/Webinars

• AFTER  THE  WEBINAR:  Expect  an  email  with  links  to  the  material   &  a  survey.  If  you  fill  it  out,  we’ll  send  you  a  Blue  Star  pin.

• Ask  a  question   in  the  panel  on  the  RIGHT  SIDE  of  your  screen

• Follow  along  via  Twitter  – use  the  hashtag #CRCWebinar

Today’s Webinar:

What  is  a  RESEARCH  ADVOCATE?  A  research  advocate  brings  the  patient  viewpoint  to  the  research  process  and  communicates  a  collective  patient  perspective.

Fight  CRC’s  Research  Advocacy  Training  and  Support  (RATS)  Program:  

Goal:  to  improve  the  ability  of  research  advocates  to  effectively  participate  in  the  research  process.  This  is  done  by  hosting  person  meetings,  online  trainings,  and  webinars,  in  addition  to  ongoing  support.

Brought  to  you  by  RATS:

Resources:

Disclaimer:

The  information   and  services  provided  by  Fight  Colorectal  Cancer  are  for  general   informational   purposes  only.  The  information   and  services  are  not  intended   to  be  substitutes  for  professional  medical  advice,  diagnoses  or  treatment.    

If  you  are  ill,  or  suspect  that  you  are  ill,  see  a  doctor  immediately.    In  an  emergency,  call  911  or  go  to  the  nearest  emergency  room.    

Fight  Colorectal  Cancer  never  recommends  or  endorses  any  specific  physicians,  products  or  treatments   for  any  condition.  

Goals  for  today

– Gain  a  basic  understanding  of  normal  cell  biology  and  what  makes  cancer  happen.

– Get  a  feel  for  some  of  the  language  and  process  of  basic  research.

– Understand  some  of  the  questions  that  need  to  be  answered  in  order  to  move  the  field  forward.

– Feel  more  comfortable  with  being  overwhelmed  by  scientific  language.

DoD  grant  

Dan  Dixon  &  Nancy  Roach

Fight  CRC  Founder  &  Chair  of  the  BoardCo-­Leader:  Cancer  Prevention  &  SurvivorshipUniv.  of  Kansas  NCI-­Designated  Cancer  Center

Cell  Structure

Cells,  genes  and  signaling  pathways

Cell  Communication

http://sciencedoing.blogspot.com/2012/10/cell-­‐receptors-­‐2012.html

Cell  membrane

Signaling  pathway

Signal  transduction

Review!• We  are  made  of  cells.• Genes  control  what  cells  do.• Signaling  pathways  inside  of  cells  tell  the  genes  what  to  do.

• Signal  transduction  is  the  process  of  cells  talking  and  listening  to  each  other.

• Ligands  are  the  molecules  that  float  around  outside  cells  (signal  transduction!).

• Receptors  are  the  proteins  that  stick  outside  of  cells  and  grab  the  ligands  (signaling  pathways!).

Normal  colon  stem  cells

CancerStem  Cell

Normal Colon(colonscopy)

Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

TIME!

Review!

• Our  bodies  are  very  complicated  collections  of  cells  that  interact  in  a  controlled,  balanced  way.

• Cell  growth  is  usually  controlled  by  genes  and  the  signals  they  send  out  BUT…

• If  mutations  of  key  genes  occur,  cell  growth  can  go  out  of  control  and  lead  to  cancer.

VOCABULARY!

• Oncogenes• Tumor  suppressor  genes–Apoptosis

• DNA  repair  genes

Growth  Control  Signaling  Pathway

Note:  Growth  Factors  are  LIGANDS

Normal                Stage  0                          Stage  1  – 2                  Stage  2  – 3                                    Stage  4

Mutations  in  Colorectal  Cancer

Oncogenes  and  Tumor  Promoters Tumor  Suppressors

Review

• Oncogenes: accelerator  on.• Tumor  suppressor  genes: brakes  off.• DNA  repair  genes: sensors  and  mechanic  don’t  work.• Cancer  involves  multiple  mutations    over  time  in  order  to  overcome  our  natural  defenses.

Why  Cancer  Biology  Is  Important

Question  &  Answer:

SNAP A #STRONGARMSELFIEBayer HealthCare will donate $1 for every photo posted (up to $25,000).

Flex a “strong arm” & post it to Twitter or Instagram! (Use the hashtag!)