Cancer cells differ from normal cells in three aspects:

1.      abnormal nuclei

2.      lack of differentiation, and

3.      abnormal cell division

Cancer cells have enlarged nuclei, which means that there may be an abnormal number of chromosomes.  The chromosomes exhibit mutant characteristics such as deletion or duplication of some parts.  Extra copies of genes may also be observed.

   Unlike normal cells, cancer cells are not differentiated to suit a specific function in the body.  Thus, they assume an abnormal shape and form.

Normal cells usually enter the cell cycle for about 50 times and then die.  Cancer cells have unending cell cycle and do not die.  They only die in tissue cultures due to lack of nutrients or high concentration of their toxic waste products.  Cancer cells rapidly divide and pile one on top of the other, forming an abnormal mass of cells called tumor.  Cancer cells release a growth factor that causes the neighboring blood vessels to form new branches into the growing tumor.  This formation of new blood vessels is called angiogenesis.  Cancer cells may be confined in their place of origin (cancer in situ) and not invade other normal tissues.  A cancer is malignant when cancer cells travel in blood and start tumors in other parts of the body.  This is known as metastasis.

Related Posts

Related posts:

1. Cell: The Cell Reproduction
2. Cell : Parts Of The Cell
3. Cell : Cell Discovery
4. Cell : Cell Organelles
5. Cell : Meiosis and Gametogenesis