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Genetics is key to the development of cancer and also in the progression. Some inherited mutations confer a susceptibility to aggressive forms of cancer
Advances in early detection, innovative treatments, and personalized medicine have significantly improved survival rates—breast cancer survival rates, for example, have increased by nearly 10% in key regions
This complex disease is one characterized by abnormal cell growth unregulated. Whereas some cancers progress slowly and hence easily treated, others are highly aggressive, progress very fast, and are generally more challenging to handle.
Genetics is key to the development of cancer and also in the progression. Some inherited mutations confer a susceptibility to aggressive forms of cancer. For example, BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations lead to an increased risk of aggressive forms of breast and ovarian cancers. In normal physiology, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are generally involved in the DNA repair process; therefore, mutation can impair these processes and create cells that acquire subsequent genetic errors and become more aggressive.
The sequence of DNA is changed by mutations, which are either spontaneous or induced by the environment. Many mutations confer advantages to cancer cells, such as enhanced resistance to chemotherapy or enhanced invasiveness of surrounding tissues. For example, mutations of the EGFR gene, prevalent in some types of lung cancer, result in aggressive tumor growth due to faster cell division. Dr. Pooja Babbar, Consultant – Medical Oncology, CK Birla Hospital Gurugram shares why some cancers are more aggressive:
Environmental Factors and Their Contribution
Although genetic and mutation causes are very relevant, environmental causes also have significant contributions to making cancer aggressive. Lifestyle factors like smoking, lousy diet, and lack of exercise create the environment in which cancer thrives. For example, chronic tobacco smoke exposure can introduce carcinogens that can be directly damaging to DNA, producing mutations that force aggressive lung cancers.
In addition, the presence of toxins in the environment, such as asbestos or UV radiation, can accelerate mutation rates in cells, resulting in greater aggressiveness on the part of cancers. DNA damage in skin cells by UV radiation can result in malignant melanoma, a very aggressive form of skin cancer. Thus, environmental agents typically align with genetic predispositions to enhance the risk and aggressiveness of specific cancers.
Epigenetics: A Connection Between Environmental Exposure and Genes
Epigenetics offers insights into the interaction between environment and genes on the basis of modifications in gene expression without affecting the DNA sequence. For example, diet, stress, or exposure to chemicals might change methylation patterns within the DNA, these changes will basically turn specific genes on or off. Thus, tumor suppressor genes could be deactivated and oncogenes could be activated by such a mechanism, enhancing cancer aggressiveness.
It is not a result of one single cause but of the interaction between genetics, mutations, and environmental factors. Though the inherited genes and sudden changes, or mutations, in DNA determine the nature in which cancer occurs, lifestyle and environment play a role in the rapid progression and severity of cancer.
