3.8 the cell cycle

• stages of the cell cycle:

  1. interphase
  2. mitosis
  3. cytokinesis
• cancer is the uncontrolled growth and division of cells
• a tumour becomes cancerous when it changes from benign to malignant
• mitosis occurs for growth or repair
• drugs used to treat cancer usually disrupt the cell cycle by:

  1. preventing DNA from replicating
  2. inhibiting metaphase by interfering with spindle formation