About Tumor Apoptosis

Tumors are made of cells that grow uncontrolled and lump together. Often these cells have a gene mutation that disrupts the normal growth process. These gene mutations interrupt a process called apoptosis or cell death. Once mutated, the cells can form tumors or become cancerous. Doctors and scientists research tumor apoptosis to find the best way to prevent and treat tumors.

Function

• Tumor apoptosis is regulated cell suicide. This programmed cell death eliminates unwanted and damaged cells so that new cells can take their place. All of the cells in your body have a programmed cycle for growth and death. When a cell becomes precancerous or cancerous, this process is disrupted. Old or damaged cells do not die when they should or new cells grow before they are needed. This disruption causes an excess of cells which lump together to form a tumor.

Genes

• All of the cells in your body are made up of different genes. As cells develop, they decide which genes to turn off or on. This process is what allows your cells to become specialized. Turning on or off certain genes in a cell is what makes a muscle cell different from a bone cell. When a cell has a gene mutation, the cell's DNA is changed. The mutation may cause the cell to turn off or on genes that are not needed for the cell's function. Some of the genes affected by mutations are the gene responsible for telling the cell when to die and how to grow. When these genes are mutated, cells can form tumors or become cancerous.

Tumor Suppressor Genes

• Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that slow cell division, repair damaged DNA and tell your cells when to die. Tumor suppressor genes control tumor apoptosis. When these genes are mutated they do not work properly. This can cause your cells to not die when they need to in order to make room for new cells that are developing. When new cells develop before the old cells have died, it creates an excess of cells. This cells can then lump together to form a tumor. This uncontrolled growth can also lead to cancer.

Oncogenes

• Proto-oncogenes are good genes that normally regulate how often your cells divide and control what type of cell each cell will become. When the proto-oncogenes mutate, they become oncogenes. Oncogenes cause cells to divide more quickly than normal, which causes your cells to grow uncontrolled. As cells divide new cells are created. This growth can cause new cells to build up before the old cells die off. These cells are referred to as being turned on. When your cells' oncogenes are turned on, you are at risk of those cells becoming cancerous or forming a tumor.

Prevention/Solution

• Scientist and doctors study cells to understand how tumors form and grow. This research helps guide prevention and treatment of tumors and cancer. Some mutations that affect tumor apoptosis are often found in certain types of cancer. These genes can be useful in deciding who is at a high risk for developing certain cancers. Family members can share the same gene that is known to cause cancer. Genetic testing can identify some of the genes that are at risk and lead your doctor to recommend early screening. Understanding gene mutation and its effect on tumor apoptosis can help guide you to an appropriate screening plan and highlight any needed lifestyle changes.

Treatment

• Understanding tumor apoptosis guides researchers to new cancer therapies. The goal of treatments is to kill the cancer cells. Knowing which gene is mutated and causing the cells to grow uncontrolled lets your health care providers choose which treatments to order to cause apoptosis. Oncogenes are easier to treat because it involves turning the mutated gene off. To fight a mutated tumor suppressor gene, you need to turn the gene back on and that presents a greater challenge. Turning a gene back on involves multiple DNA mutations.