How do cancer cells differ from regular cells?
In regards to normal cell division and mitosis, how do cancer cells differ?
I know that healthy cells enter interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase; that is the normal cell reproduction. But where along the lines do cancer cells begin to mutate? How are they different/unique?
Comments
cancer cells keep multiplying without end, just like Somalis.
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o They can keep dividing, disregarding inhibition from neighbors.
o They can keep dividing, disregarding the Hayflick limit, implying that telomerase is active.
o They can keep dividing elsewhere in the body than where they originated, disregarding lack of their proper neighbors.
o "Successful" cancer cells don't trigger an immune response.
The best description I heard from a cell biologist is that a cancer cell is a bad neighbour. New cells are only produced when they are required. A new cell stops growing when it needs to stop. Cells that are no longer required commit suicide. Cells function in this way because of various types of cell-to-cell signalling. Basically cancer cells disobey the rules. They develop if not required. They grow when they should stop. They can generate chemicals that stimulates the growth of new capillaries to provide these abnormal cells. They often also do not differentiate and become the specialist cell they ought to have been. This all results from mutations in the cell's DNA.