09-18-2013, 01:48 PM
Abnormal growth of the cells results in cancer.
The cancer cells proliferate swiftly regardless of the restriction with nutrients, space and are unresponsive to the body’s stop signal. The shapes of the cancer cells are different from that of normal body cells and uncontrollably proliferate to form malignant tumors. The malignant tumors, in contrast to benign tumors, are capable of pervading to the nearby regions of the body. With the aid of bloodstream or the lymphatic system the cancer may also spread to more far-off places in the body. The study of tumors and cancers is termed as oncology and the usage of the phrase cancer implies that the tumor is malignant and can be fatal.
The revelation that certain types of genes are involved in cancer is a significant milestone in cancer research. Accordingly about 90% of the cancers are examined could be traced to some kind of genetic alteration. A part of these genetic alterations are inherited (hereditary cancers) whereas others are termed sporadic and are supposed to have arisen from gene damage resulting from various factors such as environmental exposures, hormones, aging, dietary factors etc. These acquired sporadic alterations are mostly not passed on to the children or shared amongst relatives.
The three major types of genes that can influence cell growth and are mutated in certain types of cancers are;
Oncogenes are the genes that usually direct cell growth. If the oncogenes are altered they result in cancer. Researchers describe the oncogenes as cancer switches that most individuals possess in their bodies and a sudden flip to them can activate cancer.
Mismatch-repair genes (MMR) perform numerous functions such as repair of errors in DNA synthesis. The alteration of these genes leads to increased susceptibility to various cancers.
Tumor suppressor genes are capable of recognizing abnormal growth and proliferation of the cells and halt their growth. However if the tumor suppressor genes get mutated, its functions are hindered and results in tumor development.
The cancer cells proliferate swiftly regardless of the restriction with nutrients, space and are unresponsive to the body’s stop signal. The shapes of the cancer cells are different from that of normal body cells and uncontrollably proliferate to form malignant tumors. The malignant tumors, in contrast to benign tumors, are capable of pervading to the nearby regions of the body. With the aid of bloodstream or the lymphatic system the cancer may also spread to more far-off places in the body. The study of tumors and cancers is termed as oncology and the usage of the phrase cancer implies that the tumor is malignant and can be fatal.
The revelation that certain types of genes are involved in cancer is a significant milestone in cancer research. Accordingly about 90% of the cancers are examined could be traced to some kind of genetic alteration. A part of these genetic alterations are inherited (hereditary cancers) whereas others are termed sporadic and are supposed to have arisen from gene damage resulting from various factors such as environmental exposures, hormones, aging, dietary factors etc. These acquired sporadic alterations are mostly not passed on to the children or shared amongst relatives.
The three major types of genes that can influence cell growth and are mutated in certain types of cancers are;
Oncogenes are the genes that usually direct cell growth. If the oncogenes are altered they result in cancer. Researchers describe the oncogenes as cancer switches that most individuals possess in their bodies and a sudden flip to them can activate cancer.
Mismatch-repair genes (MMR) perform numerous functions such as repair of errors in DNA synthesis. The alteration of these genes leads to increased susceptibility to various cancers.
Tumor suppressor genes are capable of recognizing abnormal growth and proliferation of the cells and halt their growth. However if the tumor suppressor genes get mutated, its functions are hindered and results in tumor development.
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