Interesting Facts About Cancer Cell

Cancer cells are abnormal cells that proliferate, maintaining their ability to multiply and grow. This uncontrolled cell growth causes the development of tissue or tumor masses. As tumors continue to develop, tumors known as malignant can spread from one place to another. Cancer cells differ from normal cells in a number of ways. These cells do not experience biological aging, do not maintain their ability to divide, and do not respond to self-termination signals. Below are ten interesting facts about cancer cells that may surprise you.

There Are More Than 100 Types of Cancer

There are many different types of cancer and these cancers can develop in any type of body cell. Cancer types are typically named for the organ, tissue, or cells in which they develop. The most common type of cancer is carcinoma or skin cancer. Carcinomas develop in the epithelial tissue that covers the outside of the body and covers organs, vessels, and cavities. Sarcomas can occur in adipose, tendons, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and ligaments, including bone, muscle, and soft connective tissues. Leukemia is cancer that originates from the bone marrow cells that make up white blood cells. Lymphoma develops in white blood cells called lymphocytes. This type of cancer affects B cells and T cells.

Some Viruses Produce Cancer Cells

Cancer cell development can be caused by a number of factors including exposure to chemicals, radiation, ultraviolet light, and chromosome replication errors. In addition, viruses have the ability to cause cancer by changing genes. When all cancers are considered, it is estimated that only 15 to 20% of them are caused by cancer viruses. These viruses transform cells by formulating the genetic structure into the host cell’s DNA. Viral genes regulate cell growth, giving the cell the ability to undergo abnormal new growth. Since the Epstein-Barr virus is associated with Burkitt’s lymphoma, hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer, and human papilloma viruses can cause cervical cancer.

About One-third of All Cancer Cases Can Be Prevented

According to the World Health Organization, when all cancer cases are considered, it is possible to prevent approximately 30% of them. It is estimated that only 5-10% of all cancers are attributed to an inherited gene defect. The rest is related to environmental pollutants, infections, and lifestyle choices (smoking, malnutrition, and physical inactivity). Globally, the single biggest preventable risk factor for cancer development is smoking and tobacco use. And research on this subject has found that 70% of lung cancer cases are smoking.

Cancer Cells Feed on Sugar

Cancer cells use much more glucose to grow than normal cells use. Glucose is a simple sugar required for energy production through cellular respiration. Cancer cells use high levels of sugar to keep dividing. These cells do not obtain their energy only through glycolysis, the process of splitting sugars to produce energy. Tumor cell mitochondria provide the energy needed to stimulate the abnormal growth associated with cancer cells. Mitochondria provide an enhanced energy reserve that makes tumor cells more resistant to chemotherapy.

Cancer Cells Hide in the Body

Cancer cells can prevent the body’s immune system from being active by hiding among other healthy cells. For example, some tumors secrete a protein secreted by lymph nodes. The protein allows the tumor to transform its outer layer into something similar to lymph tissue. These tumors appear as healthy tissue, not cancerous tissue. As a result, immune cells do not perceive this tumor as a harmful factor, thus allowing it to continue to grow and spread in an uncontrolled form in the body. Other cancer cells avoid chemotherapy drugs by hiding in compartments in the body. Some leukemia cells avoid treatment by covering the partitions in the bone.

Cancer Cells Change Shape

Cancer cells undergo changes to avoid immune system defenses and protect against radiation and chemotherapy treatment. For example, cancerous epithelial cells resemble loose connective tissue rather than healthy cells with defined shapes. Scientists associate this process with a snake shedding its skin. The ability to change form has been associated with the inactivation of molecular switches called microRNAs. These tiny regulatory RNA molecules also have the ability to regulate gene expression. When some microRNAs are inactivated, tumor cells gain the ability to change form.

Cancer Cells Divide Uncontrollably

Cancer cells can have gene mutations or chromosome mutations that affect the reproductive characteristics of the cells. A normal cell dividing by mitosis produces two daughter cells. However, cancer cells can divide into three or more daughter cells. Newly developed cancer cells may either lose or gain extra chromosomes during division. Most malignant tumors have cells that have lost chromosomes.

Cancer Cells Need Blood Vessels to Survive

One of the hallmarks of cancer is the rapid increase in new blood vessel formation known as angiogenesis. In order for tumors to grow, they need nutrients provided by blood vessels. The blood vessel endothelium is responsible for both normal angiogenesis and tumor angiogenesis. Cancer cells send signals to nearby healthy cells that enable them to develop new blood vessels that nourish cancer cells. Studies have shown that tumors stop growing when new blood vessel formation is blocked.

Cancer Cells Can Spread from One Area to Another

Cancer cells can metastasize or spread from one place to another through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Cancer cells activate receptors in blood vessels that allow them to exit the bloodstream and spread to tissues and organs. Cancer cells release chemical messengers called chemokines that cause an immune response and allow them to pass through blood vessels to surrounding tissue.

Cancer Cells Prevent Programmed Cell Death

When normal cells experience DNA damage, tumor suppressor proteins are released that cause cells to undergo programmed cell death or apoptosis. Due to gene mutation, cancer cells lose their ability to detect DNA damage and hence self-destruct.