How do cancer cells suddenly develop from normal cells?

Answer 1

The development of cancer cells from normal cells is a complex process that involves genetic and molecular changes. It's important to note that cancer is not a single disease but a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and the ability of those cells to invade and spread to other parts of the body. The transformation from normal cells to cancer cells is a result of genetic mutations and alterations in cell regulation. Here's a general overview of how this process can occur:

Genetic Mutations: All cells in the body carry genetic information in the form of DNA. Mutations, which are changes in the DNA sequence, can occur due to various factors such as exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), radiation, certain infections, and even random errors that occur during DNA replication.

Loss of Cell Cycle Control: Cells in the body normally undergo a controlled process called the cell cycle, which involves growth, replication of DNA, and division. Cancer cells often lose the ability to control the cell cycle, leading to uncontrolled and rapid division.

Defective DNA Repair: Cells have mechanisms to repair DNA damage. However, cancer cells can develop defects in these repair mechanisms, allowing them to accumulate more mutations over time.

Activation of Oncogenes: Certain genes, called oncogenes, are responsible for promoting cell growth and division. When these genes are mutated or activated, they can drive cells to divide excessively, contributing to the development of cancer.

Inactivation of Tumor Suppressor Genes: Tumor suppressor genes regulate cell division and prevent cells from becoming cancerous. Mutations that inactivate these genes can lead to loss of control over cell growth.

Evasion of Apoptosis: Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process that eliminates damaged or abnormal cells. Cancer cells can develop mechanisms to evade apoptosis, allowing them to survive and continue to divide.

Angiogenesis: To grow and spread, tumors need a blood supply. Cancer cells can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) to ensure their nourishment.

Invasion and Metastasis: Cancer cells can acquire the ability to invade nearby tissues and detach from the primary tumor, entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system. They can then travel to other parts of the body and establish secondary tumors, a process known as metastasis.

It's important to understand that cancer development is a multifaceted process that can be influenced by a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices. The exact sequence of events can vary based on the type of cancer and individual circumstances. Early detection, understanding risk factors, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are important steps in reducing the risk of cancer development.

Answer 2

cancer occurs when your cells start growing to fast. It's not that they really grow too fast. That's the later stage where masticism occurs. Cancer is a virus. You got something, whether inherited or picked up. It grows like a weed, yes, till it is excised or one goes into remission. Or, you let it grow and it kills you once it hits the lymph nodes in your neck, underarms, legs and elsewhere in very specific parts of the body.

A virus is like a cold. No one knows where it came from or where it's going. In cancer it can dominate. One goes through stages with a cold just as cancer. The cold we get over. The cancer needs to be attended and excised. Human bodies can only answer so many kinds of insult to the immune system. Needless to say, a cold is easy, but every bit the same kind of virus. Colds are weaker virus.

Cancer tells the immune system "There is nothing wrong." Immune system reads it that way. No protective agent is sent out from the blood cells to combat said cancer even if the antidote is in our bodies! White blood cells are duped. Defense mechanism isn't told about the situation. No alarm, no foul. The virus from cancer starts growing inside, changing one's DNA. Nothing lost till motor skills, skin lesions and other horrors appear or are felt. This is usually just before masticism. Get checked! Get cancer virus before it grows inward! Could save your life, friend. If lymph nodes and DNA are compromised outcomes become poor. If you think it, get it checked.

Virus may be inherited or caught. I've had it twice.

Answer 3

a cancer cell is considered a gene mutation. example:

a person who smokes who, may only smoke occasionally is less likely to get cancer than one who smokes a lot, reason is, while smoking the cells going through meiosis (reproduction) are copying other cells. if there is any interruption in this copying then the cell made is mutated. if enough of these cells are corrupted while smoking they turn into a large mutation or a cancerous lump. same with sunbathers and skin cancer.

Answer 4

Cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells in your body. Normal cells have a complex set of control systems that keep them from dividing when they're not supposed to. Cancer cells escape this control system and just keep on dividing. The way cancer cells escape this control system is through mutations in their DNA, particularly in certain genes called proto-oncogenes and tumour supressor genes.

As their name suggests, tumour supressor genes keep the cell from dividing when it's not supposed to, especially when the cell has damaged DNA. An example of the tumour supressor gene that's commonly mutated in all sorts of cancers is a gene that codes for a protein called p53. Mutations in tumour supressor genes often inactivate them in some way - it's like taking the brakes off a car.

Proto-oncogenes (which when they're mutated change their name to oncogenes) are genes which are involved in normal cell division, particularly in the transmission of signals from the cell surface to the cell nucleus that tell the cell to divide. Instead of being inactivated when they're mutated like tumour supressor genes, these are usually stuck in the 'on' position, constantly telling the cell to divide.

If you have mutations in genes in both categories you've probably got yourself a cancer cell. It's worth pointing out that most cancer cells have mutations in lots of different genes. You actually need quite a few mutations before your cell will start dividing uncontrollably.

So...what causes the mutations? Anything that damages DNA, really. UV rays in sunlight are a good example, as are the carcinogens (DNA damaging chemicals) found in cigarettes. And some viruses can pick up bits of human genes, including oncogenes, along the way when they're replicating themselves. An example (from chickens) is the Rous sarcoma virus.

Answer 5

Cancer is a disease of cells causing uncontrolled cell division. Cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), and the Rb protein are all elements of the control system that regulate passage through the restriction point. The cells are usually held in check by the cells next door and will not overstep their boundaries. But sometimes they don't and they will grow and grow.

The ability of these proteins to check cell-cycle progression, and hold cells quietly in place or even lead cells to commit suicide unless conditions are appropriate, means that they can prevent cells from becoming cancerous.

Altered regulation of expression of at least one cyclin as well as mutation of several proteins that negatively regulate passage through the restriction point can be oncogenic (cancer causing).