Cancer is a disease at the cellular level, involving heritable disorders in cellular control mechanisms. For the last five decades, biomedical research has directed most of its resources in finding out its causes and cure, yet the disease has been claiming human lives more than ever before. The disease is manifestation of etiological and pathogenic [...]
The hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome is commonly known as familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP), where hundreds of polyps are found. This is associated with APC mutation. There is another kind of hereditary predisposition of colon cancer where there is any increase in the number of polyps. The patient with this condition is called hereditary nonplyposis [...]
The genes whose mutation contribute to the causation of cancer are known as cancer critical genes. These genes are grouped into two broad classes according to their mode of activity. For example, the genes that, after their mutation, gain hyperactivity of the gene product to cause cancer is protooncogene; their mutant, overactive form is called [...]
When the most types of mammalian cells are cultured in a dish in presence of serum, they adhere to the bottom on the dish and spread out until a confluent monolayer is formed. Each cell is attached to the dish and contacts its neighbours on all sides. At this point normal cells stop proliferation- this [...]
Both primary tumors and metastases, for their growth, formation of new blood vessels i.e., angiogenesis is necessary. The new blood vessels supply the tumor with nutrients and oxygen. In absence of new blood vessels the tumor would roughly become a sphere of 2 mm diameter and a death in its center. The mechanism of angiogenesis [...]
