The Cell Cycle & Mitosis Tutorial

Problem 9: Cancer

The sputum (fluid coughed up from the lungs) of many smokers contain cells with mutations (errors) in the genes for p53. The smoking induced mutations appear to be an early signal showing that cancer of the lungs will follow. What is the likely relationship between early p53 mutation and the development of lung cancer?

A.	p53 with a mutation directly stimulates the growth of cancer cells.
B.	Mutations in p53 would prevent abnormal cells from dying by apoptosis.
C.	Mutant p53 triggers the M phase of the cell cycle leading to abnormal cell division.
D.	p53 causes a cell to enter G0, blocking cell division.