Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A cancer cell is a type of abnormal cell that divides uncontrollably and can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body through blood and lymph systems.
Related terms
Tumor: This is an abnormal mass of tissue resulting from uncontrolled division of cells. It can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Metastasis: This refers to when cancer cells break away from their original location and spread to other parts of the body via blood or lymph systems.
Oncogene: This is a gene that has potential to cause cancer. In normal conditions it helps regulate cell growth but when mutated or expressed at high levels it can help turn a normal cell into a cancerous one.