• Question: What causes cancer and will we ever find a cure?

    Asked by 449anta25 to Ceri, Marikka, Matt, Rob, Sally on 15 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Ceri Dare

      Ceri Dare answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      Cancer is caused by damage to DNA, which makes cells multiply too fast and in the wrong places. Lots of things can damage DNA – smoking is one of the worst, half of everyone who smokes will die of a smoking-related illness.

      Here’s more information on the causes of cancer and things which cause DNA damage: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/causes-symptoms/causes/what-causes-cancer

    • Photo: Robert Hampson

      Robert Hampson answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      Cancer actually requires many events to occur. Originally they were called “the six hallmarks of cancer” and the concept was introduced in a seminal paper in the scientific journal Cell in the year 2000.

      The six hallmarks are as follows: the cells must stimulate their own growth, they must not respond to growth stop signals, they must be able to resist all signals for cell suicide (called apoptosis), they must stimulate the growth of blood vessels (called angiogenesis), they must be able to multiply forever without causing cell aging (called senescence), and they invade other tissue potentially spreading to other sites (metastasis).

      Each of these required functions requires either a single or a set of mutations in the cells DNA (mutations is the name for changes in the information contained in the DNA, they can be caused by chemicals or radiation and stuff). This is why cancer is more common in old people as their cells have had more time to accumulate the necessary mutations. It has been hypothesised that aging and death are a mechanisms to prevent cancer which I think is rather overstating the case. However, it is true that if humans lived longer we would eventually all get cancer.

    • Photo: Marikka Beecroft

      Marikka Beecroft answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      Cancer can be caused by many things, like Ceri said it could be due to damage in DNA through smoking, sunlight, chemicals or radiation but it can also be caused by viruses and bacteria bacteria. Some scientists think it can also be caused by diet! Rob has given a beautifully detailed answer as well on what causes cancer.

      There have been some progresses in combating some cancers: the HPV vaccine helps decrease the likelihood of girls getting cervical cancer because Human Papilloma Virus infection increases the chance of cervical cancer by 99%. There is so much research going into cancers that treatments are progressing and saving more and more people. BBC have a good article:
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-28819323

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