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Basis of Lung Cancer
Sara
The Genetic Basis of Lung Cancer
All cells in the body contain the genetic material called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Every time a mature cell divides into two daughter cells, it replicates its DNA exactly. The daughter cells are clones of the original cell, identical in every way. It is in this way that our bodies continually replenish themselves. Old cells die off and the next generation takes their place.
A cancer begins with an error, or mutation, in a cell's DNA. DNA mutations can be caused by the normal aging process or through environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke or breathing in asbestos.
Researchers have found that it takes a series of genetic changes to create a lung cancer cell. Before becoming fully cancerous, cells can be precancerous, which means they have some irregularities (mutations) but still function as lung cells. However, precancerous changes may signify progression toward cancer. When a cell with a genetic mutation divides, it passes along its abnormal genes to the two daughter cells, which then divide into four cells with errors in their DNA and so on. Once a cell has a genetic mutation, it may develop more. With each new mutation, the cell becomes more irregular and may not be as effective in carrying out their function in lung tissue. At a later stage of disease, some cells can migrate away from the main tumor and start growing in other parts of the body. These sites are called metastases.
Primary versus Secondary Lung Cancer
Primary lung cancer starts in the lungs. The cancer cells are abnormal lung cells. Sometimes, people will have cancer from another part of their body travel, or metastasize, to their lungs. This is called secondary lung cancer, because the lungs are secondary compared to the original, primary, location of the cancer. Secondary lung cancer is not lung cancer, but rather the type of cancer from its original site, such as breast cancer. Secondary lung cancer will be treated differently than primary lung cancer, because it is a different disease. This web site focuses on primary lung cancer.
All cells in the body contain the genetic material called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Every time a mature cell divides into two daughter cells, it replicates its DNA exactly. The daughter cells are clones of the original cell, identical in every way. It is in this way that our bodies continually replenish themselves. Old cells die off and the next generation takes their place.
A cancer begins with an error, or mutation, in a cell's DNA. DNA mutations can be caused by the normal aging process or through environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke or breathing in asbestos.
Researchers have found that it takes a series of genetic changes to create a lung cancer cell. Before becoming fully cancerous, cells can be precancerous, which means they have some irregularities (mutations) but still function as lung cells. However, precancerous changes may signify progression toward cancer. When a cell with a genetic mutation divides, it passes along its abnormal genes to the two daughter cells, which then divide into four cells with errors in their DNA and so on. Once a cell has a genetic mutation, it may develop more. With each new mutation, the cell becomes more irregular and may not be as effective in carrying out their function in lung tissue. At a later stage of disease, some cells can migrate away from the main tumor and start growing in other parts of the body. These sites are called metastases.
Primary versus Secondary Lung Cancer
Primary lung cancer starts in the lungs. The cancer cells are abnormal lung cells. Sometimes, people will have cancer from another part of their body travel, or metastasize, to their lungs. This is called secondary lung cancer, because the lungs are secondary compared to the original, primary, location of the cancer. Secondary lung cancer is not lung cancer, but rather the type of cancer from its original site, such as breast cancer. Secondary lung cancer will be treated differently than primary lung cancer, because it is a different disease. This web site focuses on primary lung cancer.
