In which ways cancer cells are different to normal cells?

Question

In which ways cancer cells are different to normal cells?

Answer 1

They have mutations so they undergo rapid and uncontrolled cellular division, forming tumors. They also may not function as normal cells do.

Answer 2

Basically they don't stop multiplying. This can be caused by mutations to their DNA or the absence of molecular factors which would cause them to undergo apoptosis.

There's a non-technical explanation at http://www.cancerdoubts.com

Answer 3

There are 6 hallmarks of a cancer cell:

1 - They are able to produce molecules that promote their own growth

2 - They are resistant to molecules from other cells that would limit their growth

3- They are able to avoid apoptosis (normal cell death)

4 - They are able to replicate endlessly

5- They are able to promote the generation of new blood vessels to supply them with nutrients

6 - They are able to metastasize (migrate) to other regions of the body

The basic idea, as already mentioned is that cancer cells can replicate endlessly and are out of the control of the body.

In most early cancers, the cells themselves tend to look like the tissue from which they originate. Thus, at an early stage, a lung cancer will look a lot like a normal lung cell, except for the fact that it keeps growing. These early cancers are the ones referred to as benign, because they tend to stick around in the tissue they originate from and are usually easily removed.

However, as cancer cells mature, they look less and less like the original tissue cell. In fact, mature cancer cells actually resemble stem cells. If you think about it their are many similarities, both reproduce endlessly and both are immortal. The difference between a stem cell and a mature cancer cell is that the cancer cell cannot be regulated by the body. The mature cancer cell also gains the ability to metastasize at which point it is considered malignant since it can invade other tissues making complete removal difficult.

Answer 4

They are the same as normal cells except they undergo rapid cell division, creating lump, or tumors. Check out the source, it gives a better exp

Answer 5

normal cells grow at a normal rate.

cancerous cells grow rapidly, causing a growth in that area.