Cancer cells differ from normal cells in many ways that allow them to
grow out of control and become invasive. One important difference is
that cancer cells are less specialized than normal cells. That is,
whereas normal cells mature into very distinct cell types with specific
functions, cancer cells do not. This is one reason that, unlike normal
cells, cancer cells continue to divide without stopping.
In addition, cancer cells are able to ignore signals that normally
tell cells to stop dividing or that begin a process known as programmed
cell death, or apoptosis, which the body uses to get rid of unneeded
cells.
Cancer cells may be able to influence the normal cells, molecules,
and blood vessels that surround and feed a tumor—an area known as the
microenvironment. For instance, cancer cells can induce nearby normal
cells to form blood vessels that supply tumors with oxygen and
nutrients, which they need to grow. These blood vessels also remove
waste products from tumors.
Cancer cells are also often able to evade the immune system, a
network of organs, tissues, and specialized cells that protects the body
from infections and other conditions. Although the immune system
normally removes damaged or abnormal cells from the body, some cancer
cells are able to “hide” from the immune system.
Tumors can also use the immune system to stay alive and grow. For
example, with the help of certain immune system cells that normally
prevent a runaway immune response, cancer cells can actually keep the immune system from killing cancer cells.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
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