CancerQuest >> Mutation >> Introduction: Mutation

Mutation and Cancer

The abnormal behaviors demonstrated by cancer cells are the result of a series of mutations in key regulatory genes. The cells become progressively more abnormal as more genes become damaged. Often, the genes that are in control of DNA repair become damaged themselves, rendering the cells even more susceptible to ever-increasing levels of genetic mayhem.

Most cancers are thought to arise from a single mutant precursor cell. As that cell divides, the resulting 'daughter' cells may acquire different mutations and different behaviors over a period of time. Those cells that gain an advantage in division or resistance to cell death will tend to take over the population. In this way, the tumor cells are able to gain a wide range of capabilities that are not normally seen in the healthy version of the cell type represented. The changes in behavior seen in cancer cells are the focus of the Tumor Biology chapter of the site.

Since genetic changes and the resulting changes in cell behavior are at the heart of cancer biology, we will now take a look at some of the different kinds of genetic changes (mutations) seen in cancer and then examine the causes of these changes.

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