DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

JODHPUR
SESSION 2022-23

BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY REPORT

TOPIC:
CANCER CELL GROWTH

Submitted to: Mayank Sir Submitted by: Shireen Belim

Class: XI-D Roll no. 35
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My Sincere efforts have made me to accomplish the

task of completing this project. I have taken effort in
this project. However, it would not have been
possible without the kind support and help of many
individuals.
I would like to thank my biology teacher , Mayank sir
for giving me suggestions and encouraging me to
complete this project.
 INDEX

S.NO CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1
WHAT IS CANCER ACTUALLY?

2
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANCER CELLS AND NORMAL
CELLS

3
HOW DOES CANCER CELL DEVELOP?

4
TYPES OF CANCER

5
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

PREVENTION STEPS

DIAGNOSIS

8
TREATMENT OF CANCER

9
LATEST DEVELOPMENT

10
BIBLIOGRAPHY
WHAT IS CANCER?

According to WHO, Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost
any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go
beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or
spread to other organs. The latter process is called metastasizing and is a major
cause of death from cancer. A neoplasm and malignant tumour are other
common names for cancer.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated
9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018. Lung, prostate, colorectal,
stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while
breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among
women.

In simple terms, cancer is an abnormal growth of body cells. Each one of us is

born with a potential for cancer. One cannot "Catch" it as one would an infection
or a cold. When the programming of a cell or a group of cells is affected, growth
may become uncontrolled. Some of the factors that can alter the code are
chronic irritation, tobacco, smoke and dust, radioactive substances, age, sex,
race and heredity. While one cannot control many of these factors , we need to
be aware of the ones we can control of. Prevention is definitely better than
treatment of cancer.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANCER CELLS AND NORMAL CELLS

Normal Cells Cancerous Cells

Growth Stop when there's enough Uncontrolled growth

Respond to signals from Do not respond to signals

Communication other cells from other cells

Aged/damaged cells are Cells are neither repaired

repaired or replaced or replaced
Cell repair/death

Stay together in assigned Can travel solo and

Stickiness/spread area throughout the body

Uniform look under a Varied sizes, larger and

Appearance microscope darker center under a
microscope
Reach maturity Do not reach maturity
Maturation

Evasion of immune Can be targeted and Can "hide" and grow

system eliminated uninterruputed

Perform designated tasks Fail to perform designated

Function tasks

Blood vessels grow to feed Blood vessels grow

normal growth and aid in regardless, constantly
Blood supply repairs "feeding" a tumor
 HOW DOES A CANCER CELL DEVELOP ?

When genes work properly, they tell cells when it is the right time to grow and divide. When
cells divide, they make exact copies of themselves. One cell divides into 2 identical cells, then
2 cells divide into 4, and so on. In adults, cells normally grow and divide to make more cells
only when the body needs them, such as to replace aging or damaged cells.

Diagram of cell division

But cancer cells are different. Cancer cells have gene mutations that turn the cell from a
normal cell into a cancer cell. These gene mutations may be inherited, develop over time as
we get older and genes wear out, or develop if we are around something that damages our
genes, like cigarette smoke, alcohol or ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

A cancer cell doesn’t act like a normal cell. It starts to grow and divide out of control instead
of dying when it should. They also don’t mature as much as normal cells so they stay
immature. Although there are many different types of cancer, they all start because of cells
that are growing abnormally and out of control. Cancer can start in any cell in the body.
 TYPES OF CANCERS

Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer risk factors include smoking, genetic mutations, and exposure to
certain chemicals.

Breast Cancer
Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer
early. Talk to your doctor about when to start and how often to get a screening
mammogram.

Cervical Cancer
Screening tests and the HPV vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer.

Colorectal Cancer
If you are 45 years old or older, get screened. Screening tests can help prevent
colorectal cancer or find it early, when treatment works best.

Gynecologic Cancers
Five main types of cancer affect a woman’s reproductive organs: cervical,
ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. As a group, they are called gynecologic
cancers.

Head and Neck Cancers

Cancers of the head and neck include cancers that start in several places in the
head and throat, not including brain cancers or cancers of the eye.

Kidney Cancer
To lower your risk of kidney and renal pelvis cancers, keep a healthy weight.
Don’t smoke, or quit if you do.

Liver Cancer
To lower your risk for liver cancer, get vaccinated against hepatitis B, get tested
for hepatitis C, and avoid drinking too much alcohol.

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. To lower
your risk, quit smoking, avoid secondhand smoke, and get your home tested for
radon.

Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that start in the lymph system. The two
main kinds are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the thin tissue that lines many of your
internal organs. Exposure to asbestos causes most cases of mesothelioma.
Myeloma
Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. In myeloma, the cells grow too much,
forming a mass or tumor in the bone marrow.

Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female
reproductive system. But when ovarian cancer is found early, treatment works
best.

Prostate Cancer
Most prostate cancers grow slowly and don’t cause any health problems. Learn
more and talk to your doctor before you decide to get tested or treated for
prostate cancer.

Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. To lower your skin
cancer risk, protect your skin from the sun and avoid indoor tanning.

Thyroid Cancer
The thyroid gland is located in front of the neck. It sends out hormones that help
control many activities in the body.

Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system.

Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers

Vaginal and vulvar cancers are rare, but all women are at risk for these cancers.
There are as many types of cancer cells as there are types of cancer. Of the hundred-plus types of
cancer, most are named for the type of cancer cells in which the disease began.1 For example:

• Carcinomas are cancers that arise in epithelial cells that line body cavities.
• Sarcomas are cancers that arise in mesenchymal cells in bones, muscles, blood vessels, and
other tissues.
• Leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloma are blood-related cancers that are arise from the bone
marrow (leukemias and multiple myelomas) or the lymphoid tissues (lymphomas). They are
"fed" by nutrients in the bloodstream and lymph fluid such that they don't need to form
tumors

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms caused by cancer will vary depending on what part of
the body is affected.

Some general signs and symptoms associated with, but not specific to,
cancer, include:

• Fatigue
• Lump or area of thickening that can be felt under the skin
• Weight changes, including unintended loss or gain
• Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the
skin, sores that won't heal, or changes to existing moles
• Changes in bowel or bladder habits
• Persistent cough or trouble breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating
• Persistent, unexplained muscle or joint pain
• Persistent, unexplained fevers or night sweats
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising
CAUSES AND PREVENTION

DON’T USE TOBACCO

Tobacco use (including cigarettes, cigars, hookah, chewing tobacco and more)
has been linked to many types of cancer, including lung, colorectal, breast,
throat, cervical, bladder, mouth and esophageal cancers. It’s best never to start
using tobacco, but if you do use tobacco products, it’s never too late to quit.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM THE SUN

Skin cancer is the most common and the most preventable cancer diagnosis. The
exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation causes most skin cancers. Be sure to
use adequate sun protection year-round. Never use indoor tanning beds.

EAT A PLANT-BASED DIET

Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains, limit red meat and foods
high in salt and cut out processed meats. Avoid drinks with added sugar. A large
2021 study found that three servings of vegetables (not starchy ones, like
potatoes) and two of fruit (not juice) every day resulted in a 10% lower risk of
death from cancer.

LIMIT ALCOHOL
Drinking alcohol is linked to several cancers, including breast, colorectal,
esophageal, oral and liver cancers. If you drink, limit your drinking to no more than
one drink a day if you are a woman, and no more than one or two a day if you are
a man. The more you drink, the greater your risk of cancer. Even small amounts
of alcohol might increase your risk.

GET VACCINATED AGAINST HPV AND

HEPATITIS B
Getting vaccinated can protect you from certain viruses that are linked to certain
cancers. One of these viruses is HPV. All children should get vaccinated against
HPV between ages 9-12 and older teens and young adults (ages 13 to 26) who
have not been vaccinated can get a “catch-up” vaccination series.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY MEDICAL HISTORY

AND GET RECOMMENDED CANCER
SCREENINGS
Share your family history with your health care provider and discuss cancer
screenings. Some tests can help detect cancer early, when treatment is more
likely to be successful, and some can also detect precancerous conditions before
they become cancer. While screening has been proven to save lives, screening
guidelines may not be “one size fits all.”
CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Biopsy:

During a biopsy, your doctor collects a sample of cells for testing in the laboratory.
There are several ways of collecting a sample. Which biopsy procedure is right for
you depends on your type of cancer and its location. In most situations, a biopsy is
the only way to definitively diagnose cancer.

In the laboratory, doctors look at cell samples under the microscope. Normal cells
look uniform, with similar sizes and orderly organization. Cancer cells look less
orderly, with varying sizes and without apparent organization.

Imaging tests. Imaging tests allow your doctor to examine your bones and internal
organs in a noninvasive way. Imaging tests used in diagnosing cancer may include a
computerized tomography (CT) scan, bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scan, ultrasound and X-ray, among
others.
EXAMPLE OF A BIOPSY REPORT
CANCER CELLS UNDER A MICROSCOPE
Cancer stages
Once cancer is diagnosed, your doctor will work to determine the extent (stage) of
your cancer. Your doctor uses your cancer's stage to determine your treatment
options and your chances for a cure.

Staging tests and procedures may include imaging tests, such as bone scans or
Xrays, to see if cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Cancer stages are indicated by the numbers 0 through 4, which are often written as
Roman numerals 0 through IV. Higher numbers indicate a more-advanced cancer.
For some types of cancer, cancer stage is indicated using letters or words.
 TREATMENT

Treatment of cancer depends on which type of cancer you

have
Cancer treatment options include:

Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer or as much of the cancer as
possible.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as

Xrays and protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation treatment can come from a machine
outside your body (external beam radiation), or it can be placed inside your body
(brachytherapy).

Bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow transplant is also known as a stem cell
transplant. Your bone marrow is the material inside your bones that makes blood
cells. A bone marrow transplant can use your own cells or cells from a donor.

A bone marrow transplant allows your doctor to use higher doses of chemotherapy to
treat your cancer. It may also be used to replace diseased bone marrow.

Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy, also known as biological therapy, uses your body's

immune system to fight cancer. Cancer can survive unchecked in your body because
your immune system doesn't recognize it as an intruder. Immunotherapy can help
your immune system "see" the cancer and attack it.

Hormone therapy. Some types of cancer are fueled by your body's hormones.
Examples include breast cancer and prostate cancer. Removing those hormones
from the body or blocking their effects may cause the cancer cells to stop growing.

Targeted drug therapy. Targeted drug treatment focuses on specific abnormalities

within cancer cells that allow them to survive.
SOME LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN CANCER TREATMENT:

Researchers have found a new way to kill cancer cells by using artificial DNA which
could pave the way for a cure of the disease in future. The existing methods of
treating cancer have their limitations, however, scientists believe that RNA and
DNA-based drugs could potentially help beat the deadly disease. The findings
published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, last week, show that
researchers at the University of Tokyo have used the chemicallysynthesised,
hairpin-shaped, cancer-killing DNA to target and kill human cervical cancer and
breast cancer-derived cells. The DNA pairs were also used against malignant
melanoma cells in mice.
The team of researchers at the University of Tokyo, led by Assistant Professor
Kunihiko Morihiro and Professor Akimitsu Okamoto from the Graduate School of
Engineering, indicated that they were inspired to move away from conventional
anti-cancer drug treatments by using artificial DNA.

Notably, nucleic acids (namely DNA and RNA) drugs are not typically used for
cancer treatment and have been challenging in the past given that it is difficult for
them to distinguish between cancer cells and other healthy cells.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

I have taken help from my Dad and some friends.

I have also taken help from the following sites:

• www.mayoclinic.org
• www.cancer.gov