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Cancer Cell Invasion

Image of cancer cells from the activity

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Genetic Disease
  • Cell Biology
  • Cell Cycle

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Phenomenal Images

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IB
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Saved By
50 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This activity explores an image of tumor cells invading muscle tissue, which serves as a phenomenon for learning about cancer, mutations, and cell division.

Tumor cells can invade and colonize other tissues through a process called metastasis, which begins with “leader” cells breaking off from the tumor. Leader cells are both genetically and behaviorally different from the main “body” of the tumor, and they guide other tumor cells into invading healthy tissue. This image shows cells in a breast tumor (green with leader cells shown in pink) invading the surrounding muscle tissue (blue).

The “Educator Materials” document includes background information and implementation suggestions for using the image as a phenomenon. The “Student Handout” includes the image and background information.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Image by Kevin Cheung, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Student Learning Targets

  • ​​​​​​Examine images of phenomena, make observations, and ask questions.
  • Collaborate with peers on ideas, ask questions that require higher levels of reasoning, and develop deeper understanding of concepts.
  • Describe how mutations in specific genes can lead to abnormal cell division and cancer.

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

breast cancer, cell division, leader cell, metastasis, mitosis, muscle, mutation, tumor

Primary Literature

Figure 2a (with modifications to color) from: Cheung, Kevin J., Edward Gabrielson, Zena Werb, and Andrew J. Ewald. "Collective Invasion in Breast Cancer Requires a Conserved Basal Epithelial Program." Cell 155, 7 (2013): 1639–1651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2013.11.029.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Spanish files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 08.27.18
Date Updated 03.04.20

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-4; SEP1

AP Biology (2019)

IST-1.B, IST-1.E, IST-2.E, IST-4.A; SP3

IB Biology (2016)

1.6, 7.1

Common Core (2010)

ELA.WHST.9-12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2; DP1

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Image (JPG) 977 KB
Educator Materials (PDF) 230 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 352 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 701 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 1 MB

Related Science News

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Blood test helped detect cancer before symptoms, study finds
Breast cancer risk from menopause hormones may last decades

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This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists

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