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Cancer Cell Characteristics-1

Cancer cells exhibit several key characteristics that differentiate them from normal cells, including unregulated growth, low differentiation, and morphological changes. They also demonstrate genetic instability, produce unique antigens, and may secrete abnormal enzymes and hormones. Additionally, cancer cells have altered cell membranes and an unlimited lifespan, allowing them to proliferate independently of growth factors.

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34 views8 pages

Cancer Cell Characteristics-1

Cancer cells exhibit several key characteristics that differentiate them from normal cells, including unregulated growth, low differentiation, and morphological changes. They also demonstrate genetic instability, produce unique antigens, and may secrete abnormal enzymes and hormones. Additionally, cancer cells have altered cell membranes and an unlimited lifespan, allowing them to proliferate independently of growth factors.

Uploaded by

kaleem84228740
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CANCER CELL

CHARACTERISTICS
Faisal Baloch
BSN 3rd Year
Medicare College Multan
CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER
CELLS
The changes in cell when it becomes malignant are as follows:
1.CHANGES IN GROWTH PROPERTY:
The cell escapes from regulatory control , and growth is unregulated
while the growth of normal cell is regulated.
2 DIFFERENTIATION:
Low in cancer cells as compared to normal cells in which it is high.
.
3 MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES:
Variations in size and shape occur.

4 GROWTH FACTOR INDEPENDENCE:


Another characteristic of cancer cells is the ability to proliferate even in
the absence of growth factors while the normal cells cannot.
4 GENETIC INSTABILITY:
• Most cancer cells exhibit a characteristic called genetic instability that
is often considered to be a hallmark of cancer . It account for the high
frequency of mutations in cancer cells genes.
• Characteristics of genetic instability include
• aneuploidy, in which chromosomes are lost or gained.
• intrachromosomal instability, which includes insertions, deletions,
and amplifications.
• point mutations
5 ANTIGENIC CHANGES:
The tumor cells bear antigens that are different from those of normal
cells , which are recognized by host immune system that produce
immune response to destroy the tumor . Tumor antigens may be of
three types:
1 TUMOR SPECIFIC ANTIGEN: Only present in tumor cells and not on
any normal cell . e.g melanoma associated antigen 1
2TUMOR ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN: These are present on tumor cells and
also on some normal cells e . g prostate specific antigen
• 3 ONCOFETAL ANTIGEN: This group of antigen consists of substances
normally produced during fetal life but not by adult cells i.e they are
produced by tumors e.g alfa fetoprotein and carcinoembryogenic
antigen.
• 6 PRODUCTION OF ENZYMES AND HORMONES :
• Cancer cells may produce substances that normal cells of the tissue
of origin either do not produce or secrete in lesser amounts.
• They may also secrete degradative enzymes(collagenase, elastase)
that enable invasion and metastatic spread.
• Cancer cells may also assume excessive hormone synthesis (e.g
tumors of pancreas produce increased amount of insulin causing
hyperinsulinemia).
• Ectopic hormone production may also occur.
• 7 CELL MEMBRANE CHANGES:
• Loss of adhesiveness to other cells.
• Impaired to cell communication.( it may interfere with formation of
intercellular connections and responsiveness to membrane-derived
signals.)

• 8 LIFE SPAN:
• Cancer cells differ from normal cells by being immortal, with an
unlimited life span . Life span of a normal cell is limited.

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