Medical advances have allowed both an extended human life span and an improved quality of life. There is a downfall however, the longer we live the more likely it is that our bodies obtain harmful defects. These defects can lead to diseases such as cancer. Researchers have been intensely investigating the mechanisms of cancer to identify treatments which can be translated to the medical field. Cancer occurs when cells divide uncontrollably and develop the ability to move throughout the body. Under normal physiological conditions the cells in our body do not behave this way. To obtain these abilities the cells must acquire mutations at the genetic level, or in the DNA, which allow cells to do this. The following video gives a good introduction to how cancer develops.
Cancer development
One of the mechanisms which can give our cells the ability to divide uncontrollably is through the MAPK pathway. This pathway allows our cells to respond to hormones and other signaling molecules used throughout the body. Mutations in our DNA can cause this pathway to be turned on, constantly signaling. One specific protein of interest is p53. p53 is what is known as a tumor suppressor protein, it functions to stop cells from becoming cancerous. If p53 becomes mutated and is able to function properly its anti-cancer properties stop working. In this case cancerous cells are more likely to develop. Mutations in the gene which encodes p53 are often considered a necessary part of cancer progression, illustrating the importance of this protein.
The Role of p53
Although p53 plays a major role in the development of cancer, there are many more factors at work. This is what makes cancer such a complex disease; two people can be diagnosed with breast cancer but have to receive treatments tailored to the individual to be effective. Being able to identify mutations present in the cells of cancer patients, such as p53, will lead to improved treatment specified to the individual patient.
Introduction to the development of Cancer
