Cancer: How do tumors arise – Naturopathy naturopathy specialist portal
New insights into the origin of cancer
Cancer is an extremely complex disease. The exact mechanisms that lead to the emergence are still unclear. An international research team with participation of the German cancer research centre could now be documented for the first time, the molecular events that occur when healthy tissue with cancer-causing substances comes in contact with.
Researchers from the German cancer research center and the universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh were the first to observe the molecular Evolution of tumours in Detail and understand. The Team found that damage to be passed on due to cancer promoting substances over several cell generations, resulting in ongoing differences between the mother and daughter cell, can result. These variations are the basis for the development of cancer cells. The results were recently presented in the prestigious scientific journal “Nature”.
Cancer: the Exact processes at the origin is still unknown
Many chemicals or radiation are able to cause damage to our genetic material and thereby causing cancer. Among the best known triggering factors of the UV radiation of the sun light and tobacco smoke. In addition, there are many other environmental influences and chemicals, which is exposed to our body. Cancer, although it has long been associated with such factors, but the molecular processes in the pathogenesis of the disease are not yet understood sufficiently.
Cancer development in mice analyzed
The international research team is the solution to this puzzle is now one step closer. The researchers subjected mice of the strong liver-cancer-causing-chemical Diethyl nitrosamine and analyzed the genome of the animals. So you were able to follow the step-by-step, as it comes from the initial DNA damage by the substance to the emergence of liver cancer.
As cancer develops
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First of all, the chemical damage to individual DNA building blocks caused by the healthy cells. These building blocks are called nucleotides. When the injured cell divides, the more the information will be passed due to the damage correctly, reducing the divided daughter cell is slightly different from the parent cell. In this way, two DNA strands with different defects, the researchers suggest.
These cells divide further and further, causing a new fault to develop, which results in a complex Patterns of mutations are produced. In the end, the Chance is quite large that such mutations in cancer, proliferating cells develop and form a tumour. Surprisingly for the Team was that such mutations develop over several cell generations, and the errors are always given without the DNA damage of the cells to be repaired.
The strongest mutations survive
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“There are those cancer cells through, at the end, bear the most favourable pattern of mutations”, emphasized study first author Sarah Aitken of the University of Cambridge. These cells can continue to grow most rapidly and also better the immune system escape. Fast-growing cancer cells are Aitken is that often also more resistant to cancer therapies.
Chemotherapeutic agents can cause mutations
“Also, certain chemotherapeutic agents can damage DNA inducing the yaw also Segre and over several cell generations, further mutations can generate,” adds Martin Taylor of the University of Edinburgh. This fact should be taken into account in the development of future cancer drugs.
Cancer development is thought to be more complex than previously
“Through the concept of damage-of Segregation, we now understand better than before how the amazing complexity of mutations in cancer cells can arise,” adds Duncan Odom from the study team. The explain why tumors adaptation are extremely capable. This adaptability will help the cancer cells to develop resistance to drugs, or in foreign tissues. (vb)
Read also: New drug stops Tumor growth.