Cancer: Normal Cells vs Cancer Cells – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Normal cells
answer
have normal, predictable cell division
question
Cancer cells
answer
have rapid and continuous cell division
question
Normal cells
answer
perform specific, differentiated functions. Each cell has a purpose.
question
Cancer cells
answer
have no specific function, they serve no useful purpose.
question
Normal cells
answer
are contact inhibited and adhere tightly together. Once cells are in direct contact on all surfaces with other cells it no longer undergoes mitosis.
question
Cancer cells
answer
have a loss of "contact inhibition" and adhere loosely together. They do not respect other cell boundaries & have persistent cell division. They do not care if there is no room for more cells or that they are causing pain. No fibronectin.
question
Normal cells
answer
are euploid (23 pairs of chromosomes)
question
Cancer cells
answer
are aneuploid (can lose or gain chromosomes)
question
Normal cells
answer
are not immortal - when cells are damaged they are destroyed.
question
Cancer cells
answer
seem immortal - continue to grow even if cell is considered damaged. The more malignant the more growth.
question
Normal cells
answer
have a small nucleus
question
Cancer cells
answer
have large nucleus that takes up most of the cell.
question
Normal cells
answer
show specific morphology - the cell is distinct and recognizable in appearance, shape & size.
question
Cancer cells
answer
Anaplasia - anaplastic morphology - poor differentiated cells, unable to tell what original cell was.
question
Normal cells
answer
are non-migratory. They do not wander from one tissue into the next.
question
Cancer cells
answer
Transplantability - are able to slip through blood vessels and tissues. Metastasis.
question
Normal cells
answer
undergo apoptosis - programmed cell death
question
Cancer cells
answer
do not respond to signals for apoptosis. Instead they promote their own survival by angiogenesis and hormone & receptor site productions.
