Cancer+Cells

**Overview of Cancer:**
Cancer is a collection of cells which undergo genetic mutation [1] [4]. This mutation is generally caused by a malfunction in the cell cycle [2] [3]. In this cycle there are a number of steps, and each step is monitored by certain "checkpoints" in the cycle [2] [3]. These checkpoints are an important component in the cell cycle as they regulate the development of the cell, while also screening the cell for any abnormalities in the cell process [2] [3]. If an abnormality is found, the cell cycle can delay the progression of the cycle until the problem has been fixed [2]. A model of the cell cycle is shown in Figure 1 below. However, cancerous cells can somehow bypass these checkpoints and hence detection of the mutation is missed [2] [3]. Cancer cells then begin to rapidly and uncontrollably divide, potentially spreading throughout the body [2] [3]. Figure 1: Cell Cycle and Checkpoints (Picture obtained from Collins, Jacks and Pavletich 2010) Cancer cells affect almost any body tissue, so in essence cancer embodies a large group of diseases [1] [4] [5]. As cancer cells multiply, they form a mass of cells called a tumour [1] [4] [5]. Tumours may be benign or malignant [1] [4] [5]. Those that are benign are generally contained to one location and are potentially harmless, only compressing surrounding body tissue [1] [4]. Malignant tumours, on the other hand, invade and damage surrounding body tissue, and cells may break off the tumour and spread to all areas of the body, a process known as metastasis [1] [4]. Once this happens the cancer may spread anywhere, and it can become life threatening [1].

By Ashlea Norton //Last edited 11/11/2011//

References:
 [1] Cancer Council Australia 2011, 02/09/2011-last update//, Frequently Asked Questions//. Available: http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/FAQ.htm#491 [2011, 28/09/2011].

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> [2] Collins, K., Jacks, T. & Pavletich, N.P. 1997, "The Cell Cycle and Cancer", //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, // vol. 94, no. 7, pp. 2776-2778.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> [3] Garrett, M.D. 2001, "Cell Cycle Control and Cancer", //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Current Science, // vol. 81, no. 5, pp. 515-522.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> [4] State Government of Victoria, Australia 2011, 01/09/2011-last update//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">, Cancer // [Homepage of Better Health Channel], [Online]. Available: @http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cancer_explained?open [2011, 28/09/2011].

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> [5] World Health Organisation 2011, 01/02/2011-last update//<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">, Cancer //. Available: @http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/index.html [2011, 28/09/2011].