The Cell Cycle and Cancer

The Cell Cycle

• Cells go through a
series of stages
through their life
• These series of
stages is called the
cell cycle
• Each time the cell
divides, the cell cycle
starts over for the
new cells
The Stages of the Cell Cycle
1. G1 (Gap/growth 1)
Phase – The cell grows
2. S (synthesis) Phase –
DNA is synthesized or
duplicated
3. G2 (Gap 2) Phase –
DNA is checked for
errors; the cell grows
more.
4. M (mitotic) Phase –
Mitosis occurs
Cell Cycle Checkpoints
• At each checkpoint, a
chemical messenger
tells the cell whether it
can go on to the next
phase.
• If it does not get that
message, it stays in
that phase

Compare the cycle to a toll road, the check points to

the toll booths and the chemical messengers to
money.
2. Chemical Signals tell a cell when to start
and stop dividing.
The Chemical Messengers may come from
other cells or the cell’s own DNA

1.Before a cell
divides, the DNA is
checked to make
sure it has
replicated correctly.
(If DNA does not
copy itself
correctly, a gene
mutation occurs.
Neighboring cells communicate with dividing
cells to regulate their growth also.

They may release the necessary chemical

messengers for the others cells.
Cancer: What happens when
something goes wrong?
Cancer is a disease of the cell cycle. Some
of the body’s cells divide uncontrollably and
tumors form.

Tumor in Colon
Tumors in Liver
DNA mutations disrupt the cell cycle.

Mutations may be
caused by:

1. radiation
2. smoking
3. Pollutants
4. chemicals
5. viruses
While normal cells will stop dividing if there is a
mutation in the DNA, cancer cells will continue
to divide with mutation.
Due to DNA mutations, cancer cells ignore
the chemical signals that start and stop the
cell cycle.
Due to DNA mutations, cancer cells cannot
communicate with neighboring cells. Cells
continue to grow and form tumors.

Skin cancer
 SUMMARY
Normal
Cancer
CellCells
Division

1. Mutations
DNA is replicated
occur in properly.
the DNA when it is replicated.
2. Chemical signals that
startstart
and stop
and stop
the cell
the cycle.
cell cycle are
ignored.
3. Cells communicate with each other so they don’t
3. Cells
become
do not
overcrowded.
communicate with each other and tumors
form.
 Treating Cancers

Cancer treatments include drugs that can stop

cancer cells from dividing.
Parts of a chromosome