A Patient's Cells from a Colorectal Polyp Were Collected and the APC

question 57

Multiple Choice

A patient's cells from a colorectal polyp were collected and the APC and ras genes were analyzed. The APC gene was found to be mutated, and the ras gene was found to be up-regulated. The physician classifies the polyp an adenoma and advises the patient to have the polyp removed. The patient claims that the physician is incorrect in his advice to have the polyp removed. Is the physician's advice logical? Why or why not?

• A) no, because adenomas are benign tumors and thus are unlikely to progress to a malignant tumor
• B) no, because the up-regulation of the ras gene will counter the effects of the mutant APC gene, and the benign tumor is unlikely to progress to a malignant state
• C) no, because until the specific function of the mutated APC gene is known, it cannot be determined that the cells are in a proliferative state
• D) yes, because the cells of the polyp have already begun to divide inappropriately, and further mutations may allow the tumor to invade other tissues and metastasize
• E) yes, because up-regulation of the ras gene is causing the cells to divide more slowly, and thus they will be unable to repair future DNA damage that will likely occur in cells surrounding the polyp

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