A 59-year-old woman comes to the physician because of worsening shortness of breath for the past two weeks. Physical examination shows decreased breath sounds at both lung bases. The abdomen is distended and there is shifting dullness with a positive fluid wave. Ultrasound of the abdomen shows a large collection of peritoneal fluid and a hypoechoic mass involving the left ovary. Molecular analysis of the malignant cells in ascitic fluid is performed, and these cells are found to have high telomerase activity. This enzyme promotes cell growth and malignancy by directly causing which of the following actions?

Question

A 59-year-old woman comes to the physician because of worsening shortness of breath for the past two weeks. Physical examination shows decreased breath sounds at both lung bases. The abdomen is distended and there is shifting dullness with a positive fluid wave. Ultrasound of the abdomen shows a large collection of peritoneal fluid and a hypoechoic mass involving the left ovary. Molecular analysis of the malignant cells in ascitic fluid is performed, and these cells are found to have high telomerase activity.  This enzyme promotes cell growth and malignancy by directly causing which of the following actions?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Telomerase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that synthesizes telomeric DNA sequences that can replace the lost chromosomal ends of the telomeres.  Cancer cells typically contain increased telomerase activity to allow for continued proliferation

A 59-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Physician Because of Worsening