Question

While all cancer cells are proliferative, only some become malignant. Explain this statement.

Short answer

Answer: Proliferative cancer cells are cells that are actively dividing and growing, contributing to the formation of tumors. Malignant cancer cells, on the other hand, are a subset of cancer cells that have the ability to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through blood and lymph vessels, causing a more severe and life-threatening condition. While all cancer cells are proliferative, only some of them become malignant.

Step-by-step solution

Define cancer cells

Cancer cells are abnormal cells that have the potential to form tumors or invade nearby tissues in the body. They generally result from mutations in the DNA of normal cells.

Define proliferative cells

Proliferative cells are cells that are actively dividing and growing. In cancer cells, this increased cell division contributes to the formation of tumors.

Define malignant cells

Malignant cells are a subset of cancer cells that have the ability to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through blood and lymph vessels. This process, known as metastasis, is what makes some cancers more severe and life-threatening.

Explain the statement

All cancer cells are proliferative in the sense that they are able to divide and grow at a faster rate than normal cells. However, not all cancer cells have the ability to invade nearby tissues and spread throughout the body. Only malignant cancer cells have these characteristics that make them particularly dangerous and life-threatening. This is why the statement says that while all cancer cells are proliferative, only some become malignant.