Here's why:
* Normal cells have a tightly regulated cell cycle. This means they grow and divide in a controlled way, responding to signals from the body and stopping when they're needed.
* Cancer cells have lost this control. They grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a mass of abnormal cells called a tumor.
Key characteristics of cancer cells:
* Mutations in genes: These mutations can alter the cell cycle control mechanisms, leading to uncontrolled growth.
* Ignoring signals to stop: Cancer cells can ignore signals from the body that tell them to stop dividing.
* Evasion of apoptosis: They can evade programmed cell death, which is a normal process that eliminates damaged or unnecessary cells.
* Unlimited replication potential: Cancer cells can divide indefinitely, unlike normal cells which have a limited lifespan.
* Metastasis: Some cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system.
It's important to note that not all rapid cell division is cancerous. For example, during wound healing, cells divide rapidly to repair the damaged tissue. However, this division is controlled and stops once the wound is healed.
