Cancer and the Control of Mitosis

There are about 200 types of cancer characterised by uncontrolled cell division.A mass of cells called a tumour develops as a result as more cells are formed than need to be replaced.A number of growth factors and DNA repair proteins are involved in mitosis. The rate of mitosis depends on the cellular environment and the proteins that regulate the cell cycle.If the genes for any of these growth factors mutate abnormal cells are formed. Most abnormal cells die. If however some are capable of surviving, they grow and replicate rapidly by mitosis forming a tumour.Benign tumours grow slowly and are more compact and are less life threatening.Malignant tumours grow rapidly, are less compact and spread to other parts of the body.