BANGALORE INTERNATIONAL

ACADEMY N.S.V.K.®
 NAME: Spoorthi Kulkarni
 CLASS: XII
 SUBECT: Biology Investigatory
Project
 TOPIC: Cancer Biology / Oncology.
 Certificate
This is to certify that I, ____________
of class XII of Nehru Smaraka Vidyalaya
has successfully completely the
__________ Investigatory Project as
prescribed by the All India Senior Secondary
Certificate Examination (AISSCE) for the
academic year 2017-18.

Date:
_____________
Principal’s Signature

__________ __________
Signature of Signature of
External Examiner Internal Examiner
 INDEX

Introduction 4
Description of Human Cancer Cells 5
Difference between healthy and cancer 6-7
cells
Cancer cell division 8-9

Causes of Cancer 10
Cancer types- Symptoms, Prevention 11-13
Cancer Treatment 14
Acknowledgement 15
Bibliography 16
 Introduction
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell
growth with the potential to invade or spread to other
parts of the body.
Not all tumors are cancerous; benign tumors do not
spread to other parts of the body. Possible signs and
symptoms include a lump, abnormal bleeding, prolonged
cough, unexplained weight loss and a change in bowel
movements. While these symptoms may indicate
cancer, they may have other causes.
Over 100 types of cancers affect humans.
These diseases are characterized by a cellular
malfunction. Healthy cells are programmed to ‘know
what to do and when to do it’. Cancerous cells do not
have this programming and therefore replicate and
grow out of control.
Cancerous cells in together are called Neoplasm.
 Neoplasm

HUMAN CANCER CELLS

Cancer cells are cells that divide relentlessly, forming
solid tumors or flooding the blood with abnormal cells.

Cancer cells have distinguishing histological features

visible under the microscope. The nucleus is often large
and irregular, and the cytoplasm may also display
abnormalities.
The shape, size, protein composition, and texture of
the nucleus are often altered in malignant cells. The
nucleus may acquire grooves, folds or
indentations, chromatin may aggregate or disperse, and
the nucleolus can become enlarged.
Different combinations of abnormalities are
characteristic of different cancer types, to the extent
that nuclear appearance can be used as a marker in
cancer diagnostics and staging.
 Cancer cell formation Cancer cell multiplication

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Normal AND

CANCER CELLS
Normal Cells Cancer Cells
Cell Reproduction
Cell reproduction is needed to replenish These cells may have gene
the cell population that ages or becomes mutations or chromosome mutations that
damaged or destroyed. Normal cells affect the reproductive properties of
reproduce properly. the cells. They don't experience
biological aging and maintain their ability
to replicate and grow.
Cell Communication
Cells communicate with other cells Cancer cells lose the ability to
through chemical signals. These signals communicate with other cells through
help normal cells to know when to chemical signals. They also lose
reproduce and when to stop reproducing. sensitivity to anti-growth signals from
Cell signals are usually transmitted into a surrounding cells. These signals normally
cell by specific proteins. restrict cellular growth.

Cell Specialization
Normal cells have the ability to Cancer cells are unspecialized and do not
differentiate or develop into specialized develop into cells of a specific type.
cells. For example, cells can develop Similar to stem cells, cancer cells
into heart cells, brain cells, lung cells or proliferate or replicate many times, for
any other cell of a specific type. long periods of time.
Cell Death
Normal cells have the ability to self When the genes in a normal cell are
destruct when they become damaged or damaged beyond repair, certain DNA
diseased. Cells break down and are checking mechanisms signal for cell
disposed of by white blood cells. destruction.

Morphological DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Normal AND

CANCER CELLS

Normal Cells Cancer Cells

Large cytoplasm Small cytoplasm
Single nucleus Multiple nuclei
Single nucleolus Multiple and large nucleoli
 Fine chromatin Coarse chromatin

CANCER CELL DIVISION

Cell division is a normal process used by the body for
growth and repair. A parent cell divides to form two
daughter cells, and these daughter cells are used to
build new tissue, or to replace cells that have died as a
result of ageing or damage. Healthy cells stop dividing
when there is no longer a need for more daughter cells,
but cancer cells continue to produce copies.
Cancer is unchecked cell growth. Mutations in genes
can cause cancer by accelerating cell division rates or
inhibiting normal controls on the system, such
as cell cycle arrest or programmed cell death. As a
mass of cancerous cells grows, it can develop into a
tumor.
Tumor formation Cancer Development

Four basic stages of cancer

 Differentiating between normal cell division and
cancer cell division

Causes of CANCER
 Tobacco use is the cause of about 22% of cancer
deaths.
 Another 10% is due to obesity, poor diet, lack of
physical activity, and excessive drinking of alcohol.
 Other factors include certain infections, exposure
to ionizing radiation and environmental pollutants.
 In the developing world nearly 20% of cancers are
due to infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis
C and human papillomavirus (HPV).
 Approximately 5–10% of cancers are due to inherited
genetic defects from a person's parents.

These factors act, at least partly, by changing

the genes of a cell. Typically many genetic changes are
required before cancer develops.
 Types of cancer and symptoms
Most Common types of Cancer:

Lung Cancer
A cancer that begins in the lungs and most often occurs in
people who smoke.
Symptoms- Cough (often with blood), Chest pain,
Wheezing and weight loss.
Prevention- Avoid smoking and carcinogens at work,
Eat diet full of fruits and vegetables,
Exercise most days of the week.
Breast Cancer
A cancer that forms in the cells of breasts.
Symptoms- Bloody nipple discharge, discomfort,
inverted nipple, lump formation near
 breasts.
Prevention- Keep weight in check and be physically fit.
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Avoid birth control pills and regular screening.
Avoid post-menopausal hormones.

Prostate Cancer
A cancer in a man's prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland
that produces seminal fluid.
Symptoms- Urinary problems, Blood in the urine and
semen. Pain in the hips, pelvis, spine or upper
leg. Pain or discomfort during ejaculation.
Prevention- Enough exercise. Maintaining a healthy and a
Balanced diet. Ensuring regular ejaculation.
Having green tea regularly.

Throat Cancer
Throat cancer refers to cancer of the voice box, the vocal
cords, and other parts of the throat, such as the tonsils
and oropharynx.

Symptoms: Respiratory symptoms like coughing,

Blood wheezing, or shortness of breath, weight
loss, weakness, fever, a change in voice,
Chest pain, ear pain, hoarseness swollen lymph
 nodes in the neck, difficulty in swallowing.

Prevention: Don’t smoke, check for radon at home, regular

exercise; eat variety of fruits and vegetables,
limit the intake of alcohol, have a cup of green
tea.

Lung Cancer Breast Cancer

 Prostate Cancer Throat Cancer

CANCER TREATMENT
Cancer can be treated in the following ways:

 Surgery
Surgery, when used to treat cancer, is a procedure in which
a surgeon removes cancer from the patient’s body.
 Radiation Therapy
It is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of
radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
 Chemotherapy
 It is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill
cancer cells.
 Immunotherapy
It is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune
system fight cancer.

Acknowledgement
I would like to express my thanks of gratitude to our
Principal Mr.Arokia Raj sir for giving me the golden
opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic
“Cancer Biology” which has helped me in doing a lot of
research.
I would extend my heartiest thanks to my Biology
teacher Mrs. Praneetha Dugar ma’am for providing me
with all the support I required at all times.

I would like to gratefully thank my parents for

providing me with all the facilities and a favourable
environment at home.

I would also thank my friends who have given me

support and helped me in finalizing the project in the
given time frame.

THANK YOU

BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.google.com

www.canceresearchuk.org

www.thoughtco.com
www.bing.com

www.healthtap.com

www.mayoclinic.org

www.About.com

www.dogpile.com

www.Cancer.Net

www.Cancer.gov