cancer

A blood smear from a person with acute myelogenous leukemia. The gigantic cells with irregularly
shaped purple nuclei are leukemia cells. The small reddish-gray circular cells are normal red blood
cells.
Tumor Cells and the Onset of Cancer
• Cancer cells acquire a drive to proliferate that does not require an
external inducing signal
• They fail to sense signals that restrict cell division
• change their attachment to surrounding cells or the extracellular matrix
Metastatic Tumor Cells Are Invasive
and Can Spread
• Some malignant tumors, such as those in the ovary or breast, remain
localized and encapsulated
• Some get to otherparts through blood stream-metastasis
• They have high nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, prominent nucleoli, and
relatively little specialized structure
Cancers Usually Originate in
Proliferating Cells