Lesson 3: What causes cancer?

Cancer happens because cells grow uncontrollably.

  • There are checkpoints at the end of each stage of the cell cycle.
  • Proteins determine whether the cell can continue onto the next cycle.
  • Cancer cells initiate the 'growth' signal and divide, even if division isn't required.
  • Cancer cells can divide indefinitely.
  • Cancer cells evade apoptosis as well, meaning they can resist cell death.