Carcenogenesis, otherwise known as neoplasm, is a complex process leading to the formation of a neoplastic lesion. The changes that take place in the cell during its course result from a series of mutations that add up, i.e. DNA damage. As a result, uncontrolled divisions occur, leading to the formation of a neoplastic disease. How is the process of carcenogenesis? What factors are responsible for its launch?

Contents:

  1. Stages of the carcenogenesis process
    • What is the initiation stage?
    • What is the promotion stage?
    • What is the progression stage?
  2. What is neoplastic transformation?
  3. What factors can trigger the initiation of the process of carcenogenesis?
  4. What are initializers?
  5. What are promoters?
  6. Genes related to the cancer process
    • What are oncogenes?
    • What are mutant mutator genes?
    • What are suppressor genes?
  7. Role of viruses in cancer formation
  8. Knowledge about the process of carcenogenesis - importance for he alth

Cancerotherwisecarcinogenesisorcarcinogenesisis a process that results from errors in genetic information. Genes are the instructions in DNA that control how a cell functions. When the genetic information of the life cycle or DNA repair mechanisms is damaged, the process of carceneogenesis may begin.

The formation of a neoplastic lesion is a complex, long-term process. It results from a series of mutations that gradually build up. Ultimately, as a result of these damages, neoplastic transformation occurs, i.e. the cell acquires a complex of neoplastic features.

Stages of the carcenogenesis process

Carcenogenesis is a process of continuous successive changes. It is usually divided into three stages:

  • initiation
  • promotion
  • progression

What is the initiation stage?

During the initiation stage, the first change in DNA appears, leading to the start of the cancer process. It is often referred to as the initiating mutation. Such damage may occur spontaneously or as a result of the action of a carcinogen, i.e. a carcinogen.

Such changes take place in our bodies very often, but thanksthe safety mechanisms do not develop the disease. Most DNA mutations are repaired by special repair proteins present in the cell.

Initiation of the neoplastic process usually occurs when the damage to genetic information relates to data relating to DNA repair mechanisms or the life cycle. Such a change leads to a loss of control over cell division and new mutations. This leads to a continuous multiplication of the tissue as well as the appearance of further damage to the genetic material.

The process of carcinogenesis is often associated with impaired apoptosis, i.e. cell suicide. This is the way in which damaged cells in our body are removed. In neoplastic lesions, this mechanism is defective due to mutations. As a result, these cells keep reproducing despite the errors in their DNA.

Whether a cell enters the next stage of cancer development depends on the place in the genetic information where the mutation has occurred. If the change is irreversible and the life cycle is disturbed, cancer promotion begins. However, it happens that the initiated cells remain latent for many years without mutating further.

What is the promotion stage?

Oncogenes are activated during the promotion phase. This term covers defectively mutated proto-oncogenes, which in a he althy cell are responsible for the control of the life cycle. As a result of the activity of oncogenes, there is an intense, unlimited proliferation, or multiplication.

As a result of continuous divisions and damaged repair functions, a number of new mutations appear. With subsequent errors in DNA, the neoplastic change becomes more and more dangerous. All damage related to the information about the life cycle of the cell and apoptosis are particularly dangerous.

Worth mentioning is the mutation of the p53 protein that occurs in some cases. It is often referred to as the "genome keeper". This name results from the function of this protein in protecting DNA against damage and initiating the process of apoptosis. Neoplastic changes that have mutated p53 information usually have a worse prognosis than others.

The promotion stage causes the mutant cell to become cancerous. This process may take many years. Changes identified and removed at this stage offer a good chance of recovery. For this reason, early diagnosis is important in cancer therapy.

What is the progression stage?

Progression is the stage leading to malignancy of the neoplasm. As a result, it is acquired bycells with the ability to metastasize and infiltrate.

The cell undergoes drastic changes in the karyotype during this process. This means that entire chromosomes are mutated, and damage to the cell nucleus is visible under the microscope.

Neoplasms detected at this stage have poor prognosis and are characterized by malignancy.

What is neoplastic transformation?

Neoplastic transformation occurs during the process of carcenogenesis. This term is defined as the cell's acquisition of a set of neoplastic features:

  • limited response to growth blocking factors sent by the body
  • loss of ability to inhibit cell growth
  • ability to share unlimited number of cell divisions
  • ability to multiply independently of contact with the ground

What factors can trigger the initiation of the process of carcenogenesis?

The process of carcinogenesis begins with an initiating mutation. This change may occur spontaneously as a failure in DNA replication. Some damage to the genetic material leading to cancer may be inherited from the ancestors. A single mutation does not directly cause disease. A neoplastic lesion requires a number of DNA damage that arises during the process of carcenogenesis.

There are also external factors that may initiate or stimulate the process of neoplastic lesions formation. They are called carcinogens. They are divided into:

  • physical factors, e.g. UV radiation, ionic radiation
  • chemical agents, e.g. ethyl alcohol, tar contained in cigarette smoke
  • biological agents e.g. oncogenic viruses such as HPV

There are initiators and promoters among carcinogens due to their influence on the neoplastic process.

What are initializers?

Initiators are chemical, physical, or biological interactions of a mutagenic nature. These factors are responsible for causing an initiating mutation within the DNA in the cell nucleus. As a result of this change, the neoplastic process begins.

What are promoters?

Promoters are factors that stimulate the course of the carcinogenesis process. They stimulate mutant cells to divide faster. Under the influence of their influence, neoplasm occurs in a shorter time and the disease develops rapidly.

The group of promoters includes various types of toxic substances that reach our body from the outside. Unfortunately, also compounds synthesized by the human body can work in this way.Cytokines, estrogens and other endogenous substances can stimulate the development of a neoplastic lesion.

Genes related to the cancer process

Cancer is a genetic disease. The harmful processes that occur during these diseases result from damage to DNA, i.e. genetic information. These changes do not affect the whole organism, as in the case of hereditary genetic diseases, but only the changed tissue.

From our ancestors, we can inherit single genes that increase the risk of disease. However, you cannot inherit the cancer from your parents.

During the process of neoplasm formation, specific types of genes related to the control of DNA stability and the cell life cycle undergo mutations. We can list the following types:

  • oncogenes
  • mutated genes responsible for DNA repair - mutators
  • mutated suppressor genes, i.e. anti-oncogenes

What are oncogenes?

Oncogenes are genes whose activity leads to the transformation of a he althy cell into a cancer cell. They arise from damaged proto-oncogenes, which are the correct versions of genetic information. They are responsible for:

  • cell cycle course
  • checks on the process of cell differentiation and multiplication
  • apoptosis, i.e. the process of suicidal cell death

These cellular processes are disrupted when the proto-oncogene is converted into an oncogene.

What are mutant mutator genes?

Mutator genes are DNA repair genes, also known as genome keepers. In a he althy cell, they protect the genetic material against damage. If there is a mutation within them, the DNA is not protected and new damage appears at a rapid pace. Eventually, the cell mutates more and more intensely and the carcinogenesis process accelerates.

What are suppressor genes?

In a he althy cell, suppressor genes block the cell cycle and its division. When a cell becomes defective as a result of damage, these genes block its transition to the next stage of the cycle leading to multiplication. This is due to the synthesis of special blocking proteins. Thanks to the suppressor genes, damaged cells do not reproduce and damage the body.

Carcenogenesis leads to the impairment of this protective mechanism. During it, the suppressor genes are mutated. As a consequence, cancer cells keep dividing in an uncontrolled way, regardless of damage.

Role of viruses in cancer formation

Some viruses have the abilityinitiating the process of carcenogenesis. This is due to the way these microorganisms multiply. Namely, they are not capable of being duplicated on their own. In order to multiply, viruses insert their DNA into the genetic material of the host cell. Then, based on the implanted information, new microorganisms are synthesized.

Sometimes in this process, damage to DNA containing data on the normal cell cycle is damaged. Such an infected cell may divide in an uncontrolled manner, while at the same time duplicating the grafted genetic material of the virus. This way it enters the path of cancer formation.

Among the viruses capable of triggering the process of carcenogenesis, we can mention:

  • HPV- human papillomavirus
  • hepatitis B virus
  • hepatitis Cvirus

We can protect ourselves against oncogenic HPV viruses and hepatitis B by means of preventive vaccinations.

Knowledge about the process of carcenogenesis - importance for he alth

Understanding the molecular basis of carcenogenesis has changed the way we think about cancer. Thanks to it, new methods of treatment are possible, for example, targeted therapy.

The knowledge on the stages of cancer development allows us to draw significant conclusions regarding the prevention and diagnosis of oncological diseases. Changes during the initiation phase can be eliminated by protective processes in a he althy organism. Our body can hide for many years latent cells at the initiation stage, which can be activated and develop into a neoplastic lesion. For this reason, a he althy lifestyle is important in cancer prevention.

Another important aspect is the need for early diagnosis. At the stage of promotion, lesions can be surgically removed after detection with good prognosis for complete recovery. If the tumor progresses, it becomes malignant. Such a change is capable of metastasis. Treatment of the disease at this stage is more difficult and the prognosis is significantly worse.

About the authorSara Janowska, MA in pharmacyPhD student of interdisciplinary doctoral studies in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at the Medical University of Lublin and the Institute of Biotechnology in Białystok. A graduate of pharmaceutical studies at the Medical University of Lublin with a specialization in Plant Medicine. She obtained a master's degree defending a thesis in the field of pharmaceutical botany on the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from twenty species of mosses. Currently, in his research work, he deals with the synthesis of new substancesanticancer agents and testing their properties on cancer cell lines. For two years she worked as a master of pharmacy in an open pharmacy.

Category:

Oncology