Question

Cell Fis an abnormally dividing malignant cell with a high likelihood of metastasizing to other places in the body. Cell Z is an abnormally dividing benign cell that has a very low likelihood of metastasizing to other places in the body. Both abnormal cells can form tumors in breast tissue. Why does cell F have a high chance of metastasis while cell Z does not? In 1-2 sentences, use a molecular (DNA, protein, etc.) explanation for why Cell F is likely to metastasize, but cell Z is not. Your answer should include at least one specific example.

Answer 1

There are two types of the cancer which can be seen in the general perspective that is benign and malignant. In case of the benign cells the cancer stem cell which si helpful in the division factor of the cancer to lead to rise the population of the cancer cell is vanished or leached out of the tumor therefore until and unless the tumor is exceeding the normal or the threshold size, the cells can not metastasize due to which the cancer cell with the benign nature is having the low rate for the metastasis. Considering the example for the MCF7 cell line for the breast cancer cell it has been seen that the cell need the substratum to grow and it does not have the cancer stem cell presence. Thus, the metastasis for this cell line has seen to be low. This is why the cell Z has shown to have the low metastatic rate in the benign coancer conodition.

Considering the other cell type that is malignant, even though the cells are attached to the substratum, the cancer stem cell presence plays a crucial role for the metastatic approach of these cells. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition can be seen at the higher rate in the case of malignant cancer cells. For example if we consider the MD-MBA cell line for the breast cancer then it can be seen that these cells have the presence of the cancer stem cell which will proliferate assymetrically to lead to the growth in the cell population which will lead to the continuous cell division and exceeding the threshold size limit of the tumor that will increase the rate for the metastasis.