Pathological basis of cancer
Cancer arises from an accumulation of mutations within a cell that can lead to disrupted cell function, dysregulation of cell growth, and malignancy. The process of carcinogenesis can be viewed as consisting of three stages, initiation, promotion, and progression.
Initiation: characterized by DNA damage and the development of a permanent gene mutation. Such mutations can be brought about by a variety of factors such as viruses or environmental damage [radiation, chemical carcinogens etc.]
Promotion: subsequent exposure to one or more promoting agents after a cell has undergone damage or initiation. Promoting agents can cause the mutated cells to grow, proliferate, and develop into tumors. Promoters include some tobacco carcinogens, environmental pollutants, drugs, and hormones.
Progression: involves both mutagenic and non-mutagenic effects leading to morphological changes and increasingly malignant features such as invasion, metastases, and drug resistance.
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