What's a list of differences between normal and cancerous cells?

Cancer cells are unlike normal cells in the sense that they grow and divide at an abnormal rate. Unlike normal cells that undergo cell senescence and eventually stop dividing after a set number of cell divisions has occurred, cancer cells continue to grow, divide, and evade apoptosis (or cell death).

Cancer cells are typically found to:

1. Grow and divide even without the presence of growth signals that normal cells need (either by producing these themselves or keeping mechanisms that the signals activate turned on)


2. Bypass cell cycle checkpoints that prevent other cells from growing and dividing as a means to avoid abnormal cells from persisting


3. Bypass apoptosis, which is a programmed form of cell death that maintains the balance among cells in the body and prevents the growth of damaged or abnormal cells


4. Have the capability to replicate their DNA by having excess of the enzymes like telomerase that are responsible lengthening the ends of chromosomes (or telomeres) and are shown to have decreased activity as normal cells age


5. Initiate the formation of blood vessels (angiogenesis) to obtain a supply of blood and nutrients


6. Move from their location to other areas of the body (metastasis) and "invade" new areas


7. Have abnormal metabolic processes


8. Evade immune responses of the body


9. Be genetically unstable (several mutations found in the genome)


10. Be caused by chronic inflammation