What causes cancer is the question that always lingers in mind of everyone nowadays. After all this killer disease can affect 30% of the population as things stand today and the numbers are only going to go up further. There are four main causes of cancer 1) Changing a gene's chemical structure- Genetic Mutation 2) Changing a gene's environment - Epigenetics 3) Disordered chromosomes 4) New DNA from outside world - oncogenic viruses.
DNA or Deoxyribonucleic acid contains the genetic imprints of our cells and is the fundamental structure that determines what we are. Mutations change the genetic structure of DNA. Some mutations may not cause harm but others alter the entire functioning of the DNA and can make the cells go deviant.. Genes that have mutated making them a party to cancer development are called oncogenes. Chemical and radiation exposure are known to cause such damage to the DNA.
Epigenetics: While DNA contains the genetic structure it does not function in isolation. It needs messenger molecules, the RNA (ribonucleic acid) to pass on messages which in turn converts it into correct proteins. If some external factors within the cell wreck this message transfer process the gene is shut down. This is called changing the genetic environment. This principle is used in a reverse manner to determine the cause of cancer. For example one woman with a gene for breast cancer never gets it but her sister with the same gene may get this disease. Scientists are using this RNA message transfer mechanism to target and shut down the genes that are misbehaving and could turn cancerous.
Sometimes cancer may occur because of a major chromosome disorder. This is called aneuploidy. A chain of molecular sequences between chromosomes are deleted, multiplied or swapped with sections of other chromosomes. Unlike gene mutation or genetic environmental change which case localized cancers the chromosome disorder causes mass destruction of genomes. Leukemia or cancer of the white blood cells is one example of cancer caused by this mass chromosome disorder. Cancers caused due to this condition are perfect target for drug therapy.
Identifying the exact cause of the cancer helps the medical professional treats the disease in a much effective manner.
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