Question

How does apoptosis relate to cancer cells?

Answer 1

Apoptosis is a natural event of programmed cell death. Cancer cells evade this to become almost immortal and continue to divide to form malignant tumour.

Explanation:

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death; it is a highly regulated process. Undesirable biochemical changes in the cell signal the beginning of apoptosis: once a cell enters this mode it cannot go back to its normal state. Cell death is achieved by activating protease type enzymes.

Any mutation that disrupts cell signalling system leading to initiation of apoptosis, may allow the cell to continue with undesirable changes. Thus cells avoid death and go on dividing uncontrollably to form a neoplastic mass.