Cancer Cells Characteristics

Divide indefinitely

Cancer cells don’t stop dividing if they have access to an unlimited amount of nutrients and resources.

Remain undifferentiated

- Cancer cells don’t look the same as the surrounding cells

- they have no biological function or purpose.

Lack contact inhibition “Lack respect for boundaries”

Normal cells stop growing when they come into contact with other cells.

Cancer cells grow into surrounding cells and tissues and destroy them “Invasiveness”

Cancer cells grow on top of each other

Undergo metastasis

Cancer cells can enter through blood vessels or lymph vessels

Undergo angiogenesis (Blood vessels production)

Formation of new blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to tumor cells so that they keep growing