Skip to main content
Back

Overview of Cancer definitions

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/15
  • Proliferation
    Unregulated increase in cell number due to excessive growth and division, a hallmark of tumor formation.
  • Apoptosis
    Programmed cell death process; its disruption allows abnormal cells to survive and accumulate.
  • Mutation
    Permanent alteration in DNA sequence; accumulation leads to genetic instability in tumors.
  • Genetic Instability
    High frequency of mutations and chromosomal changes, resulting in diverse tumor cell populations.
  • Benign Tumor
    Localized abnormal cell mass with clear boundaries, often removable with high survival rates.
  • Malignant Tumor
    Aggressive abnormal cell mass capable of invading other tissues and spreading throughout the body.
  • Metastasis
    Spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant organs, complicating treatment.
  • Tumorigenesis
    Multistep process leading to tumor development, often involving mutations in regulatory pathways.
  • Signal Transduction Pathway
    Network of proteins transmitting signals to control gene expression and cell behavior.
  • Clonality
    Origin of a tumor from a single mutated cell, with all progeny inheriting initial and subsequent mutations.
  • Cancer Stem Cell
    Self-renewing cell within a tumor, capable of generating both new stem cells and tumor cells.
  • Epigenetic Change
    Modification of DNA packaging proteins affecting gene expression without altering DNA sequence.
  • Cell Cycle
    Ordered sequence of events in cell growth and division, tightly regulated by specific proteins.
  • Checkpoint
    Control point in the cell cycle ensuring DNA integrity before progression to the next phase.
  • Cyclin Dependent Kinase
    Enzyme activated by cyclins, adding phosphates to proteins to regulate cell cycle transitions.