Oncology 101: The Fundamentals of Cancer
A comprehensive overview of the basic principles of oncology, from the biology of cancer to treatment modalities.
Part 3: The Hallmarks of Cancer
The ten acquired capabilities that transform normal cells into malignant ones
The 10 Hallmarks of Cancer
Think of cancer as acquiring superpowers that normal cells don't have
🚨 Core Hallmarks (6)
• Self-sufficiency in growth signals
• Insensitivity to growth inhibition
• Evading apoptosis
• Limitless replicative potential
• Sustained angiogenesis
• Tissue invasion & metastasis
⚠️ Emerging Hallmarks (2)
• Reprogramming energy metabolism
• Evading immune destruction
🔧 Enabling Characteristics (2)
• Genomic instability & mutation
• Tumor-promoting inflammation
💡 Remember: Normal cells follow rules. Cancer cells break all the rules to become "super-cells" that can't be stopped.
3.1 Core Hallmarks (The Original Six)
The fundamental capabilities that enable cancer
Self-Sufficiency in Growth Signals
Cancer cells can grow without external signals
Self-Sufficiency in Growth Signals
What happens when cancer cells become self-sufficient in growth signals?
Insensitivity to Growth Inhibition
Cancer cells ignore "stop" signals from other cells
Insensitivity to Growth Inhibition
How do cancer cells respond to growth inhibition signals?
Evading Apoptosis
Cancer cells resist programmed cell death
Evading Apoptosis
What is apoptosis?
Limitless Replicative Potential
Cancer cells can divide forever (immortalization)
Limitless Replicative Potential
How many times can normal cells typically divide?
Sustained Angiogenesis
Cancer cells recruit blood vessels to feed the tumor
Sustained Angiogenesis
What is angiogenesis?
Tissue Invasion & Metastasis
Cancer cells can invade and spread to distant sites
Tissue Invasion & Metastasis
What makes metastasis so dangerous?
🧠Memory Aids for 3.1 Core Hallmarks (The Original Six)
Self-Sufficient = Solo Starter (doesn't need permission)
Insensitive = Ignores Inhibition (deaf to stop signals)
Evading Apoptosis = Eternal Alive (refuses to die)
Limitless Replication = Life Repeats (forever young)
Angiogenesis = Artery Addition (building blood highways)
Invasion & Metastasis = Infiltrate & Migrate (cancer's travel plans)
3.2 Emerging Hallmarks (The New Additions)
Additional capabilities discovered in recent research
Reprogramming Energy Metabolism
Cancer cells change how they make energy (Warburg effect)
Reprogramming Energy Metabolism
What is the Warburg effect?
Evading Immune Destruction
Cancer cells hide from or disable the immune system
Evading Immune Destruction
How do cancer cells evade the immune system?
🧠Memory Aids for 3.2 Emerging Hallmarks (The New Additions)
Reprogramming Metabolism = Rapid Maker (fast energy production)
Evading Immune = Expert Invisibility (ninja cancer)
3.3 Enabling Characteristics (The Facilitators)
Characteristics that enable the acquisition of hallmarks
Genomic Instability & Mutation
Cancer cells have unstable DNA that mutates frequently
Genomic Instability & Mutation
What causes genomic instability in cancer?
Tumor-Promoting Inflammation
Chronic inflammation helps cancer grow and spread
Tumor-Promoting Inflammation
How does chronic inflammation affect cancer?
🧠Memory Aids for 3.3 Enabling Characteristics (The Facilitators)
Genomic Instability = Genetic Irregularity (DNA chaos)
Tumor Inflammation = Trouble Increases (inflammation feeds cancer)
✅Quick Review - Hallmarks Challenge!
🚦 Self-sufficiency means?
Cancer cells don't need external growth signals
💀 Evading apoptosis means?
Cancer cells refuse to die when damaged
♾️ Limitless replication means?
Cancer cells can divide forever (immortal)
🩸 Angiogenesis means?
Cancer cells recruit blood vessels to feed tumors
🎯 Master Tip: Use the SILAGE acronym to remember all 6 core hallmarks!