What specific changes in the structure of cells and DNA lead to cancer within the human body.
I know many different causes of cancer, how it can (broadly speaking) originate and how the cells multiply and spread. I am however unable to discover how it initiates within the cell. What structural changes do cells in general and DNA undergo in the production of cancer?
Dear, Adelaide Waller
It is too complex to be answered in one setting.
Also, it is variable from one tumor to another one, provided that mutations do occur in normal cells , as well as, malignant cells.
Virtually, two hits or multiple hits(mutations) are required for normal cell to be converted to malignant cell.
Generally speaking, pediatric tumors require less mutations (hits) than adult tumors to evolve.
Many factors, as you know, may be implicated in the initiation & promotion of malignant process, may be physical, chemical or other factors, as radiation, smoking, benzene,...etc.
These extrinsic factors, in the presence of predisposing genetic conditions (intrinsic), besides the chance ( Stochastic factor), these factors interact together to give malignant neoplasm.
These factors lead to acquisition of sequential mutations, mostly in normal stem cell or progenitor cell that confer the malignant potential for them.
Changes in micro-environment as hypoxia, may lead to changes in the metabolic state or phenotypic behavior of involved cells, e.g, anaerobic glycolysis which give privilege for malignant cells to evolve at the expense of normal cells.
Dear Adelaide,
I saw from your RG profile that you cannot be "described" with keywords such as "DNA" - "cell" - "cancer" - etc...
I think that the RG community could offer you with more precise responses if you tell us exactly what are your expectations.
Best regards
Robert
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Medicine
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
- Cancer Biology