Causes of cancer

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Malignant tumors such as carcinoma or sarcoma, lymphoma or leukemia originate from a cell or a group of cells in a multicellular organism that has several distinct properties:

  • evading apoptosis
  • Unlimited Growth Potential
  • self-sufficiency of growth factors
  • insensitivity to anti-growth factors
  • increased cell division rate
  • altered differentiation (specialization) ability
  • no ability for contact inhibition
  • ability to invade neighbouring tissue
  • ability to build metastases
  • ability to promote blood vessel growth (angiogenesis)

In cellular model systems, cells are exposed to carcinogenic influences (chemicals, radiation). In these systems, the first signs of a cell developing into a tumor cell are:

  • Immortality. The usual number of cell divisions for a mammalian cell is 50-60 (cell senescence), then it ceases to divide. Tumor cells keep dividing forever.
  • Altered morphology.
  • Building of cellular clusters (Foci).
  • Loss of contact inhibition.
  • Low or no need for growth factors.

Items 2-4 (above) can sometimes be traced to mutations in genes that result in a disruption of cell adhesion. Some cell adhesion proteins are oncogenes.

Cancers are capable of spreading through the body by two mechanisms: local invasion and distant metastasis. Invasion refers to the direct migration and penetration by cancer cells into neighboring tissues. Metastasis refers to the ability of cancer cells to penetrate into lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream, and then invade normal tissues elsewhere in the body. Cancer is most deadly when it metastasizes.

  • Cancer Information Services
    Information from the U.S. National Cancer Institute including access to links, press releases and publications.
  • CancerSymptoms
    Discusses common symptoms related to cancer treatment. Provides email access to a nurse for questions.
  • MCW Healthlink: Cancer
    Medical College of Wisconsin Physicians and Clinics resource which provides news articles and information about recent developments.
  • Cancer Lynx
    An online 'zine for patients and professionals.
  • Cancer Rates And Risks
    Provides international incidence and mortality rates including information about risk factors. From the U.S. National Cancer Institute.