Cancer Biology.

• • Cancer forms as a result of uncontrolled cell growth – Mitosis​
• • Within the cell there are strict checks and parameters to ensure that ‘faulty’ cells are sent for destruction (apoptosis)​ a-pop
  • ​
• • The body creates millions of cells every day and sometimes this process fails.​
  • It is then the role of the immune system – Phagocytes to destroy cancerous cells​
  • If this fails cancer cells can mutate and spread and form ‘Tumours’​
• A Failure of the Cell Cycle

  Cells go through multiple phases when being synthesised (created)​

  Mitosis is the main stage in which DNA within cells are replicated ​

  However there are multiple stages of cell division and mutations can occur throughout this process​

  Generally, the body will know if a cell has a mutation and will be destroyed before DNA replication (Mitosis) – This destruction is called Apoptosis​

  But occasionally due to quantity these checks can fail​
• Tumors can be considered benign – static non-changing and generally safe (but should be monitored for changes) – will not travel or invade other areas of the body
• Tumors can be considered malignant – In a current process of cell division which could spread – Dangerous – Can invade or move to other areas of the body and continue to grow 
• How mutations cause cancer 

  • Cancers start when changes occur in the genes that control cell division. A change in any gene is known as a mutation.​
  • If the mutated gene is one that causes cancer, it is referred to as an oncogene​
  • Mutations are common events and don’t lead to cancer most of the time​
  • Most mutations either result in early cell death or result in the cell being destroyed by the body’s immune system​
  • As most cells can be easily replaced, these events usually have no harmful effect on the body​
• Carcinogens are substances that may increase your risk of developing cancer.
• static non-changing and generally safe (but should be monitored for changes) – will not travel or invade other areas of the body
• malignant – In a current process of cell division which could spread – Dangerous – Can invade or move to other areas of the body and continue to grow ​