Chapter 25.5, Problem 2QTC

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The differences in the cell cycle that might occur between the cells of a benign and malignant tumor.

Given:

Cancer is unchecked cell growth. Mutations in genes can cause cancer by accelerating cell division rates or inhibiting normal controls on the system, such as cell cycle arrest or programmed cell death.

Introduction:

Cancer cells can be distinguished from normal cells by microscopic examination. They are usually less well differentiated than normal cells or benign tumor cells. The malignant cell is characterized by acceleration of the cell cycle, genomic alterations, invasive growth, increased cell mobility, chemotaxis, changes in the cellular surface, secretion of lytic factors, etc. Benign tumors are abnormal growths that are no longer under normal regulation, but they grow slowly, resemble normal cells, and still have surface recognition proteins that bind them together and keep them from invading or metastasizing.