Question

60. 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?

Answer 1

Yes, the physician's advice to have the polyp removed is logical because of the mutation in the APC gene and up-regulation of the ras gene.

Step-by-step explanation:

Yes, the physician's advice to have the polyp removed is logical. The presence of a mutated APC gene and an up-regulated ras gene in the patient's colorectal polyp indicates the likelihood of developing adenocarcinoma, a type of colorectal cancer. The APC gene is a tumor suppressor gene that regulates the Wnt signaling pathway, and its mutation can lead to uncontrolled cell division and polyp formation. The up-regulation of the ras gene, an oncogene, further supports the physician's classification of the polyp as adenoma and the recommendation for its removal.