Cancer cells have several characteristics that distinguish them from normal cells. Cancer cells have distinct characteristics that distinguish them from normal cells. Let’s review some of these characteristics:
Continuous Production of Growth Signals: These cells grow and divide continuously by producing growth signals. Under normal conditions, growth signals are typically not produced by the cell itself but by other cells.
Resistance to Growth-Inhibitory Signals: Cancer cells fail to respond to signals restricting growth.
Resistance to apoptosis: Cancer cells fail to respond to apoptotic signals.
Unlimited replicative potential: Normal cells have a limited capacity for replication and eventually die after a few rounds of division. One of the contributing factors to aging is the shortening of telomeres. Cancer cells can divide indefinitely.
Angiogenesis Stimulation: Cancer cells produce signals to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels.
Invasion and metastasis: Metastasis is a process in which cancer cells detach from their original site and spread to other body parts.
Change in nucleic acid metabolism: In cancer cells, there is an increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity to supply the required nucleotides for gene transcription and DNA replication. RNA and DNA synthesis also increase. With increased synthesis, the rate of renewal and metabolism of pyrimidine bases also increases in cancer cells.
Change in carbohydrate metabolism: Cancer cells utilize the anaerobic glycolysis pathway to generate energy.
Producing embryonic products: involves changes in isozyme patterns and forming embryonic forms. Embryonic proteins, such as carcinoembryonic antigens, are synthesized. The synthesis of specialized cellular proteins decreases.
Ectopic products are produced, meaning that the cell has products not previously produced.
