How can cancer be caused

Oncolytic virus therapy uses modified viruses to infect tumor cells and cause them to produce chemicals that signal danger to the immune system before self-destructing. Antibodies that target cancer antigens can be engineered through a process called phage display, in which a bacteriophage a virus that infects bacteria can be used to evolve new proteins.

Although there are number of elements at play in the development of cancer, the treatments at our disposal are constsntly improving and adapting as new research provides insight into various risk factors.

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Copy Link. What are the causes of cancer? April 23, CRI Staff. When does cancer occur? Where does cancer occur? Can you inherit cancer? Genetic Causes of Cancers Genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes, and can mutate over time to become cancerous. Does behavior or lifestyle cause cancer?

Behavioral Causes of Cancer There are a number of behavioral factors that can lead to genetic mutations and, as a result, lead to the development of cancer. Genetic testing. What Causes Cancer?

Cancer Risk Factors As mentioned, some cancers, particularly in adults, have been associated with repetitive exposures or risk factors. The following risk factors and mechanisms have been proposed as contributing to cancer: Lifestyle factors. Smoking, a high-fat diet, and working with toxic chemicals are examples of lifestyle choices that may be risk factors for some adult cancers. Most children with cancer, however, are too young to have been exposed to these lifestyle factors for any extended time.

Family history, inheritance, and genetics may play an important role in some childhood cancers. It is possible for cancer of varying forms to be present more than once in a family. It is unknown in these circumstances if the disease is caused by a genetic mutation, exposure to chemicals near a family's residence, a combination of these factors, or simply coincidence. Some genetic disorders. For example, Wiskott-Aldrich and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome are known to alter the immune system.

The immune system is a complex system that functions to protect our bodies from infection and disease. The bone marrow produces cells that later mature and function as part of the immune system. One theory suggests that the cells in the bone marrow, the stem cells, become damaged or defective, so when they reproduce to make more cells, they make abnormal cells or cancer cells.

The cause of the defect in the stem cells could be related to an inherited genetic defect or exposure to a virus or toxin. Exposures to certain viruses. Possibly, the virus alters a cell in some way. That cell then reproduces an altered cell and, eventually, these alterations become a cancer cell that reproduces more cancer cells. Environmental exposures. Pesticides, fertilizers, and power lines have been researched for a direct link to childhood cancers.

Whether prenatal or infant exposure to these agents causes cancer, or whether it is a coincidence, is unknown. Some forms of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation. In some cases, children who have been exposed to these agents may develop a second malignancy later in life.

A second malignancy is a cancer that appears as a result from treatment of a different cancer. Cancer Genes How do genes affect cancer growth? Types of cancer genes There are three main types of genes that can affect cell growth and are altered mutated in certain types of cancers, including the following: Oncogenes : These genes regulate the normal growth of cells. Scientists commonly describe oncogenes as similar to a cancer "switch" that most people have in their bodies.

What "flips the switch" to make these oncogenes suddenly become unable to control the normal growth of cells and allowing abnormal cancer cells to begin to grow, is unknown. Tumor suppressor genes : These genes are able to recognize abnormal growth and reproduction of damaged cells, or cancer cells, and can interrupt their reproduction until the defect is corrected.

If the tumor suppressor genes are mutated, however, and they do not function properly, tumor growth may occur. Mismatch-repair genes : These genes help recognize errors when DNA is copied to make a new cell. If the DNA does not "match" perfectly, these genes repair the mismatch and correct the error. Infections such as HPV.

More about infections, such as HPV, and cancer. Air pollution and radon gas. More about air pollution, radon gas and cancer. Workplace causes of cancer. More about workplace cancer risks. Changes in our hormone levels can affect the risk of cancer. More about hormones and cancer. Inherited cancer genes. Some inherited faulty genes can increase your risk of cancer. More about inherited cancer genes.

Cancer myths. Hoaxes, myths and unanswered questions about cancer. More about cancer myths. Age and cancer.