Question

How does cancer arise from improper regulation of cell cycle?

Answer 1

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. In this the body cells begin to divide uncontrollably and destroy other body tissues. These contrast with benign tumours, which do not spread.

Complete answer:
Cell cycle is a series of events which takes place for a cell to multiply into daughter cells. Cell division is an important aspect of living cells. It is important for growth, development, repair of worn-out cells and tissues, etc. There are certain checkpoints which act as checks whether the division of cells has been proper or not. These are called cell cycle regulators. For example, the G0, G1 phases check whether the DNA replication is proper or not, the mitotic axle properly shaped, the cytoplasmic segment proper or not. If any of these steps are not proper, then the cell division arrests. Also, each tissue and organs have a definite checkpoint which helps in maintaining the size and morphology. They know when to stop cell division. If the division is not proper, the cell undergoes apoptosis.

In case of cancer, the cell division occurs uncontrollably and reaches out to different tissues and organs. This is caused as a result of dysregulation of multiplication even if there is any sort of fault in DNA multiplication, mitotic arrangement or improper division. This alters the activity of cell cycle regulators as a result of which uncontrolled division starts to take place in the absence of apoptosis signals. Cancer is caused due to mutations or changes in the DNA. These changes significantly occur at the gene level which are also inheritable.

Note: Cancer cells take up the needed space and nutrients that the healthy organs would use. This causes the healthy organs to no longer function. For other people, complications from treatment can cause death. During the final stages of cancer, problems may occur in several parts of the body.