3 ms·
Yes, it has been known for quite awhile that mitogenesis (cell division) "causes" cancer: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC54830/ https://www.ncbi.n
by nonbel 9y ago
Yes, it has been known for quite awhile that mitogenesis (cell division) "causes" cancer:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC54830/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC54830/
Literally anything that leads to the need for cells to divide is a cause of cancer (eg smoking -> replace lung cells more often; UV light -> replace skin cells more often; obesity -> more cells overall needing replacement, etc).
It makes zero sense to frame the issue in terms of X causes vs doesn't cause cancer. Instead it is a matter of how much.
- agumonkey 9y agoIIUC it's not really the cell growth rate, but the harm from toxic molecules or radiation.
- nonbel 9y agoEach division there is some probability p the cell gets an error that can contribute to cancer. Anything that increases the number of divisions or p will increase the chances of cancer.
- jiggunjer 9y agoUnless it's the division of cancer destroying immune cells :). Then the (net) chance should decrease due to division.