Self-sufficiency of growth signals 01 Normal cells require signals to specify when they should grow and divide. Cancer cells no longer require exter- nal signals to be stimulated to grow, often having on-off switches that are stuck in the on position.
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Insensitivity to anti-growth signals Cancer cells have lost this function to inhibit excessive cell growth.
Sustained angiogenesis Cancer cells without a new blood supply can’t grow beyond about 1-3mm without outpacing their blood supply.
Hallmark of Cancer
Limitless replicative potential
Evading apoptosis
Apoptosis is a biological self-destruct program that cells have. This automated self-destruct mechanism is turned off in cancer cells.
Most cells will automatically stop growing beyond a certain point. Cancer cells continue to grow without any inhibition.
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Tissue invasion and metastasis
Cancer cells put out molecular signals that attract new blood vessels to the cancer from outside, providing a new mechanism for the support needed to grow, to invade into surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
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