Cancer cells

Definition

Cancer cells are abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably, often forming tumors and invading surrounding tissues. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells evade the typical regulatory mechanisms that control cell growth and division, leading to unchecked proliferation and the potential to spread to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cancer cells often exhibit genomic instability, which leads to mutations that drive their uncontrolled growth and resistance to therapies.
2. They can manipulate their microenvironment, creating conditions that favor their survival and proliferation while suppressing normal immune responses.
3. Cancer cells can use aerobic glycolysis, a process known as the Warburg effect, to generate energy even in low-oxygen conditions, giving them a growth advantage.
4. Microfluidic cell culture systems are used to study cancer cell behavior in controlled environments, allowing researchers to simulate physiological conditions and investigate drug responses.
5. The ability of cancer cells to communicate with one another and their environment through signaling molecules is crucial for processes such as invasion, migration, and metastasis.

Review Questions

• How do cancer cells differ from normal cells in terms of growth and division?
  • Cancer cells differ from normal cells primarily in their uncontrolled growth and division. While normal cells follow specific signals for growth regulation and can undergo apoptosis when damaged, cancer cells ignore these signals. They continuously proliferate due to mutations that allow them to bypass regulatory checkpoints, leading to tumor formation and potential metastasis.
• What role do microfluidic cell culture systems play in understanding the behavior of cancer cells?
  • Microfluidic cell culture systems provide a unique platform for studying cancer cells under controlled conditions that mimic physiological environments. These systems enable researchers to observe cancer cell interactions, analyze drug responses, and explore cellular behaviors such as migration and invasion. By creating microenvironments that replicate tissue architecture and fluid dynamics, scientists can gain insights into how cancer cells adapt and thrive in various conditions.
• Evaluate the impact of genomic instability on cancer cell behavior and treatment resistance.
  • Genomic instability significantly impacts cancer cell behavior by increasing the mutation rate within these cells. This high mutation frequency allows cancer cells to rapidly adapt and develop resistance to treatments, making it challenging to achieve successful outcomes with conventional therapies. As a result, understanding the mechanisms behind genomic instability is essential for developing targeted therapies that can effectively combat diverse cancer types and reduce recurrence rates.

Related terms

tumor: A tumor is a mass of tissue formed by an accumulation of abnormal cells, which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

metastasis: Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells spread from their original site to other parts of the body, often through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

apoptosis:

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death mechanism that allows the body to eliminate damaged or unwanted cells, a process that cancer cells often evade.