Physical Differences Between Cancer and Normal Cells
Unlike normal cells, cancer cells lose this characteristic, allowing them to pile up and form tumors
What is contact inhibition?
(Normal cells stop dividing when they come into contact with neighboring cells, while cancer cells ignore this signal and continue growing uncontrollably)
Cancer cells have mutations in these genes, which normally prevent uncontrolled cell growth
What are tumor suppressor genes?
(Mutation in genes like TP53 or RB1 disable the cells ability to stop division or repair damaged DNA)
Cancer cells evade this natural process, which normally leads to programmed cell death in damaged cells
What is Apoptosis?
(Cancer cells deactivate apoptotic pathways, allowing them to survive even when severely damaged)
Cancer cells predominantly rely on this energy production method, even in the presence of oxygen
What is Aerobic glycolysis?
(Known as the Warburg effect, cancer cells use glycolysis to generate energy, favoring speed over efficiency)
This is the uncontrolled process that defines cancer and distinguishes it from benign conditions.
What is Cell proliferation?
Cancer cells often exhibit this abnormal shape and size, making them distinguishable under a microscope.
What is irregular morphology?
(Cancer cells have irregular shapes, larger nuclei, and less-defined boundaries compared to normal cells)
Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can activate these segments of DNA, allowing them to divide indefinitely
What are Telomerase Genes?
(Cancer cells reactivate telomerase, an enzyme that prevents the shortening of telomeres, making them "immortal")
Cancer cells exhibit this behavior, enabling them to migrate from their original site to distant parts of the body
What is Metastasis?
(Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can penetrate blood vessels or lymph nodes and colonize new tissues)
Cancer cells exhibit increased uptake of this molecule, which they use to fuel rapid growth
what is glucose?
(Cancer cells consume glucose at much higher rates than normal cells, which is the basis for PET scans in detecting tumors)
Cancer cells often form this abnormal mass of tissue, which can be benign or malignant
What is a Tumor?
Cancer cells typically lack this organized internal structure that is present in healthy cells
What is cellular polarity?
(Normal cells have a defined orientation, such as top and bottom, while cancer cells lose this polarity, leading to disorganized growth)
Cancer cells often exhibit this type of genetic instability, characterized by numerous DNA mutations and chromosomal abnormalities
What is genetic instability?
(Cancer cells accumulate mutations at a much higher rate than normal cells, making them highly adaptable)
Cancer cells can continue dividing in this state, even in the absence of growth signals
What is growth factor independence?
(Cancer cells bypass the need for external signals to grow, unlike normal cells that require growth factors)
These energy-producing organelles are often altered in cancer cells, leading to abnormal metabolism
What are Mitochondria?
(Cancer cells often have dysfunctional mitochondria that contribute to their altered energy use)
This is the term for cancer that spreads to other parts of the body.
What is Metastasis?
These specialized structures, which allow normal cells to attach to tissues, are often reduced or absent in cancer cells
What are adhesion molecules?
(Cancer cells often lack proteins like cadherins, enabling them to detach and migrate, a key step in metastasis)
These "accelerator" genes, when mutated, promote cancer cell growth and division
What are oncogenes?
(Oncogenes are mutated forms of proto-oncogenes, which normally help regulate cell growth. Mutations in genes like HER2 or RAS lead to excessive division)
Cancer cells resist this process, which prevents overcrowding by halting cell division when space is limited
What is density-dependent inhibition?
(Normal cells stop dividing when space is limited, while cancer cells ignore these cues and continue to multiply)
Cancer cells often produce excessive amounts of this waste product due to their reliance on glycolysis
What is Lactic Acid?
(Lactic acid buildup can alter the tumor's microenvironment, promoting further growth and invasion)
This group of genes regulates the cell cycle and is often mutated in cancer cells
What are cyclin-dependent kinases?
This structural abnormality in cancer cells leads to the formation of abnormal blood vessels to sustain their growth
What is angiogenesis?
(Cancer cells stimulate the growth of new, irregular blood vessels to supply themselves with oxygen and nutrients)
Cancer cells can silence these genes using DNA methylation or histone modification, preventing normal growth regulation
What are epigenetically silenced genes?
(Cancer cells alter their epigenome to turn off genes that control cell death or repair, further enabling tumor progression)
Cancer cells produce these chemical signals to suppress the immune system's ability to detect and destroy them
What are immune Evasion Molecules?
(Cancer cells release factors like PD-L1 to deactivate immune responses, allowing them to grow unchecked)
Cancer cells can reprogram this network of chemical reactions to support their anabolic growth and survival
What is Cellular Metabolism?
(Cancer cells adapt their metabolic pathways to prioritize the synthesis of nucleotides, proteins, and lipids needed for rapid division)
Cancer cells often require this increased supply to sustain their rapid growth and replication