How Do Tumors Grow?

An alternative explanation for cancer’s origins could lead to better therapies

Scientific American

7/29

Oncologists have long worked under the assumption that most tumors develop from a single cell. However, an alternate theory proposes that only a handful of cells in a tumor- known as cancer stem cells- have the ability to grow uncontrollably and spread. According to this alternative conception, most cells in the tumor would eventually die on their own; however, if even a single cancer stem cell survived initial therapy, the cell could give rise to a whole new tumor weeks, months or even years later.

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