Med. Weter. 80 (11), 563-571, 2024
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| JANUSZ A. MADEJ |
| Selected issues of carcinogenesis |
| The types of genetic mutations in the cancer induction of the parent tumor as well as the types and mechanism of cancer metastasis formation were described. These are: 1 – metastases arising from differentiated and undifferentiated cells, step by step through the pre-tumor niche, tumor deposit and metastatic niche, 2 – metastases arising in situ in the tissue from cancer stem cells and 3 – metastases from bone marrow cells „educated” by exosomes according to the horizontal transfer method, taking place without the participation of cells. The development of metastases is not a random process and depends on the expression of adhesin molecules, e.g. on vascular endothelial cells (ICAM-1, VCAM-1). It has been noticed that cancer cells proceed analogously to Darwinian evolution, as DNA damage is preserved and passed on to daughter cells. The relationship between the phenomena of continuous accumulation and Darwinian selection, leading to the constant evolution of cancer, and permanently increasing positive entropy, in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, was also presented. The lack of effects in the treatment of some cancers may indicate the development of genetically heterogeneous subclones with constant progression, insensitive to treatment. |
| Keywords: cancer, genetic mutations, cancer metastases, Darwinian evolution of cancer |