Topic > Cancer and the process of cell division

Index IntroductionThe cell cycleCell divisionCell growthCancer treatmentConclusionIntroductionCancer. As brutal as this word may sound and as harmful as it may be to the human body, it is uncontrollable cell growth. Internal and external changes that can occur in the body can be causes of DNA change. These changes can cause cell multiplication rather than death, leading to the rapid growth of now-cancerous cells. According to Sylvia & Michael (2014), cancer, also known as the "cell cycle", occurs in multiple phases called "interphase stages" and they are G1, G2, S and M. Each of these phases has an important role in movement of the cell through that cell cycle. Apoptosis described by Sylvia & Michael (2014) contributes to a decrease in the number of cells, a phenomenon known as programmed cell death. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay There are many types of cancer today, but the most common are skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer, and they are all caused by cell division gone wrong, leading to accelerated cell growth. Statistics have shown that in 2000, 10 million people were diagnosed with cancer and that 6.2 million people died from this cancer worldwide, an increase of 22% compared to 1990 (Naomi et al . 2005). Cancer, to this day, is still known as a major cause of death. The Cell Cycle According to Sylvia & Michael (2014) cancer, also known as the "cell cycle", is also defined as different phases that occur between the time the cell is dividing and the time that that divided cell is also divides. The cell cycle occurs in multiple phases called “The Interphase Phases” and they are G1, which occurs before DNA synthesis, G2, which occurs after DNA synthesis, and S, which includes DNA synthesis. Each of these phases plays an important role in the movement of the cell through that cell cycle. The interphase stage is the period in which the cell prepares to divide. When it divides it becomes larger and doubles the number of organelles and the amount of DNA. Phase "G" represents growth as it occurs in that phase. During the G1 phase, the cell's organelles double and it also acquires the materials it essentially needs for DNA synthesis. The G2 stage is when the cell synthesizes the proteins necessary for cell division, for example the proteins that form microtubules. DNA reproduction occurs during S phase, where each chromosome is made up of a DNA molecule, known as chromatids. At the end of this stage each of the chromosomes consists of two chromatids known as "sister chromatids" which remain attached until separated during mitosis. This leads to the mitotic stage, known as the M stage. This stage is divided into two parts known as mitosis and cytokinesis, where mitosis is the division of the nucleus which is also divided into five phases, and they are prophase, late prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm. Cells die every day and new ones are always produced. This cell division is critical for repairing damaged tissue after injuries. Cell division is also known to increase the number of cells in the body. This is in contrast to apoptosis which decreases the number of cells known as “programmed cell death” Sylvia & Michael (2014), apoptosis is the removal of improper tissue, which impacts cancer and prevents it from occurring, as tumor cells normallythey die by apoptosis, which helps prevent tumor progression and growth. Apoptosis is when the cell goes through a phase of destruction, where it loses its interaction with other cells. Therefore, fragments in the nucleus and plasma membrane produce vesicles. When it comes to apoptosis, there are two types of caspases, the first is called 'initiators' and the second is called 'executors'. The initiators are very crucial as they are the ones who receive signals to activate the second caspase. This then leads to the activation of enzymes that break down the cell. Although we know that apoptosis is the decrease in the number of cells, Lowe and Lin (2000) describe it with its morphological characteristics, such as membrane bleeding, cell shrinkage as well as fragmentation of the nucleus. Controlled cell movement in the cell cycle occurs through two types of genetic control, known as “proto-oncogenes” and “tumor suppressor genes” Sylvia & Michael (2014). The proto-oncogene encodes cell cycle developing proteins that prevent apoptosis. In contrast, tumor suppressor genes encode proteins that interrupt the cell cycle and therefore aid in apoptosis. Cell Division Understanding cell division and what makes cancer cell division very different from normal cell division is very important to understand. Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs) have two types of division: asymmetric and symmetric. Asymmetric division serves to maintain tissue homeostasis. However, symmetric division is advantageous for the extreme expansion of malignant cells which results in unrestricted tumor growth. New evidence shows that limiting the switch from symmetric to asymmetric division in tumor cells would be advantageous as cancer therapy would only target the damaged tissue and not affect normal tissue homeostasis. According to (Marte 2004), cells are continually responsible for mutations in their DNA, which are normally harmful to the cell. Cancer cells activate and take over the bloodstream and other tissues. Furthermore, genomic instability that occurs due to cell division or defective DNA repair can cause an increased rate of possible tumorigenic mutations where it contributes to the evolution of cancer. Cell Growth Understanding controlled cell growth and proliferation when it comes to cancer is very crucial as it is the main cause of cancer development. Cell growth refers to the increase in cell size, while proliferation is the increase in the number of cells per division. For normal cellular development there is an accurate technique that allows each organ to reach its size and not exceed it. But, when a tissue is damaged and unable to repair itself, the surviving cells around it divide to help repair what is damaged. That said, in most organs, dividing stem cells replace organ-specific cells. Cancer cells are different from normal cells when comparing their response to normal control mechanisms. For example, some of these cancer cells, particularly when they are changed from normal, means that they may not divide at all. Tumors are classified into three main types which are "benign tumors" that can appear in any tissue, however they do not spread to distant sites. The second type of tumor is "in situ tumors", this tumor normally develops in the epithelium but remains in the epithelial layer. Finally, "malignant tumors" means the complete development of a tumor with the ability to destroy the,.