Question

How is a cancerous cell different from a normal cell?

Answer 1

A Cancerous cell differs from a normal cell in the following ways:

1. Cancerous cells have abnormal growth pattern. They do not stop dividing. Normal cells grow when stimulated by external growth factors whereas cancer cells stimulate their own growth by producing their own growth factors. Uncontrolled division of these cells results in formation of tumor.

2. They lose the property of contact inhibition. They do not respond to signals sent by other nearby cells,

3. Cancer cells do not undergo apoptosis i.e. programmed cell death.

4. Abnormal morphology. Cancer cells have altered cell structure and morphology. They differ in size, shape and function from normal cells. They have lower cytoplasm content, multiple and large nuclei and coarse chromatin.

5. They have abnormal number of chromosomes and dis-organised nuclear structure. They also have high number of mutations and genetic changes.

6. Due to high growth rate than normal cells they utilise more energy. Cancer cells can also have defective Krebs cycle and derive almost all their energy from glycolysis. Also, their metabolic processes occur in the absence of oxygen due to high cell density.

7. Cancer cells stimulate growth of new blood vessels called angiogenesis. This causes strain on the circulatory sustem(heart).

8. Cancer cells have the property of metastasis; they can break away from their site of origin and invade surrounding tissues as well as distant organs,

9. They have the ability to evade immune responses and hide from the immune system.