BIOH111: An Analysis of Cancer in Relation to Normal Cell Physiology

This essay provides a detailed overview of cancer in the context of normal cell physiology. It begins by outlining the normal functions of cells, including replication, metabolism, and the role of organelles like the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, mitochondria, and ribosomes. The essay then explores how cancer disrupts these normal cellular processes, such as halting programmed cell death, affecting mitosis, causing genetic alterations, and impacting mitochondrial function. It further discusses how cancer cells migrate and evade DNA repair mechanisms. The essay also touches upon the effects of cancer on ribosomal protein synthesis. Finally, it outlines various cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and targeted therapies, along with supportive care measures to manage side effects. Desklib offers this assignment solution and many more to assist students in their studies.

Running Head: CANCER AND PHYSIOLOGY OF CELLS
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Cancer in context on normal physiology of the cells
Student Name

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Table of Contents
Normal Physiology of cells........................................................................................................2
Effects of cancer on cells system...............................................................................................3
Treatment...................................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5

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Cancer in context on normal physiology of the cells
Normal Physiology of cells
Cells are defined as the living building blocks of the body and smallest structural and
functional unit of the body (Sherwood, 2015). The animal cells can form tissues such as
muscle tissues, the lining of the intestine. An organ is formed by the group of tissues with the
same function and the organs combined together to make a system such as the circulatory
system, digestive system, nervous system (BBC, 2014). Cell replication process which is the
main function of cells involved in wound healing and creating new tissues. There are other
many functions of a cell to the body such as providing structure and support, Growth by
mitosis process, facilitate active and passive transport, energy production and initiation of
metabolic reactions that are important for the normal functioning of the body (Bose, 2018).
The cell also takes part in metabolism where biochemical macromolecule has been made
and unwanted substances are degraded in the smaller molecule and excreted from the cell
system (IvyRose Holisitc, 2018). Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) present inside the nucleus
of the cell has various functions inside the human system. They contain genetic information
and act as a blueprint at the time of cell replication. DNA ensures that copy of the cell should
be an exact clone of another cell and also provides instructions for protein synthesis inside
the cell. Programmed Cell Death is another important process for development of the body
and tissue homeostasis. If there is any abnormality occurs in these processes, it leads to
various human diseases (Peter, 2011).
The reproduction process is carried out with the help of cells. A single egg is fused
with sperm to make a zygote which divided multiple times to form a complete human body
(Chandler, 2017). A cell is consists of three parts, cell membrane, nucleus, and cytoplasm.
Plasma membrane act as a separating wall which transport only specific molecule from
outside to inside the cell and form cell to the outside, a jelly-like fluid called cytoplasm is filled
inside the cell where all the organelles float freely. The nucleus which contains a genetic
material decides the functions of the cell (Bailey, 2017). Organelles found in the cytoplasm of
each cell have specific structure and functions. ER (endoplasmic reticulum) takes part in the
transportation of the molecules created by the cell. Stress occurred in endoplasmic reticulum
takes part in cell death which is the main stage of a cell cycle to eliminate the non-functional
cells and to protect the organ (Wang, Groenendyk & Michalak, 2014). GA plays an important
role in transport of lipids around the cell to maintain the cells integrity. Lysosomes and
peroxisomes engulf the foreign cell and excrete these toxic substances out of the cell to
protect a cell from bacterial invade. Mitochondrion which is called powerhouse of the cell

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produces energy for various cellular reactions. Ribosome takes part in protein synthesis by
processing the genetic instructions of the cell. Cells can also repair their genes like p53 gene
that are important to suppress tumour. The alterations or abnormal functions of these
organelles lead to developing various human diseases like cancer.
Effects of cancer on cells system (physiology of cancer)
Cancer is defined as the disease where the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells
occurred anywhere in the body. These cells with abnormal functions known as cancer cells.
When cancer occurs it affects a physiology and normal functions of the cell. In a cancer cell,
the programmed cell death has been stopped which results in the uncontrolled multiplication.
The mitosis process has been affected and the cells keep making several copies of the
carcinomas and other cancerous cells. This process of unwanted multiplication leads to
tumor formation. The genetic alterations caused by DNA damage can be transferred from
parents to their children that are triggered due to the abnormal functioning of the DNA
repairing genes. The Mitophagy caused due to cancer cells decreases the mitochondrial
number and its functions. Fibroblast metabolism can be triggered by the alteration in
glycolysis process which is initiated by cancer cell to feed them (Wallace, 2012).
The cancer cells also affect Golgi's phenotype, the alterations in Golgi due to the
abnormal activity of pro-apoptotic kinases ensures that the cancer cells will survive
(Petrosyn, 2015). To spread in various parts of the body cancer cells need to migrate from
affected place to the normal place. It has been done by altering the function of nucleus
(Fruleux & Hawkins, 2016). Cancer also affects the gene repairing function of the cell. The
damaged DNA does not have the ability to reconstruct cancer suppressor genes (Cancer
Research UK, 2017). The effects of cancer on ribosomal functions have been studied by
various researchers. According to a study published in molecular biosystems by Freed,
Bleichert, Dutca, and Baserga (2010) Cancer affect the protein synthesis function of
ribosomes.
Treatment
There is various type of treatments based on the type of cancer such as radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, medicines, targeted therapy, stem cell transplant.
Chemotherapy is most trusted and old therapy to treat patients with cancer where various
medicines have been prescribed to treat the disorder. Chemotherapy helps other treatment
to work effectively.

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Chemotherapy is applied before starting other treatment like radiation and surgery to reduce
tumor. It works better by combining with other therapy like immunotherapy (Most, Robinson,
& Lake, 2009). Bevacizumab is a medicine used to treat various type of cancer and can
increase the survival if only used with chemotherapy or immunotherapy (Jain, 2013). The
person receiving chemotherapy might experience some side effects such as nausea, weight
loss, hair loss. Insomnia might be there in patient undergoes chemotherapy courses. Some
homeopathic medicines such as Valerian, passionflower and skullcap can be added to their
prescription for better sleep before chemotherapy. Acupuncture which is beneficial in nausea
and vomiting can be assisted with proper procedure. Lifestyle related counselling such as
exercise and techniques of stress reduction can also be provided to the patient (Cancer
treatment centres of America, 2018). By providing the proper information to patient the
severity of these side effects can be reduced. Cancer is life threating disease and a patient
might feel hopeless. At this time the emotional support by the health workers provide
additional benefits to the treatment (Waller, Forshaw, Bryant, & Mair, 2014). Other side
effects like mouth sores can be caused. In this case the patient is recommended to gargle
daily. Most of the patient having troubles in eating because of sore can be provided liquid
diet. Diarrhoea is a side effect due to regular chemotherapies can be reduced by using
Probiotics. A warm vegetable broth can be added to their diet which is prepared from organic
vegetable such as spinach onions and tomatoes (Integrative cancer answers, 2018)

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References
Bailey, R. (2017). The cell nucleus. Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/the-cell-
nucleus-373362
BBC (2014). Cells, tissues, organs, and system. Retrieved from:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/
cells_systems/revision/5/.
Bose, D. (2018). Six main cell functions. Retrieved from: https://sciencing.com/six-main-cell-
functions-6891800.html
Cancer Research UK (2017). Genes, DNA, and cancer. Retrieved from:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/genes-dna-and-cancer
Cancer Treatment Centres of America (2018). Naturopathic medicine. Retrieved from:
https://www.cancercenter.com/treatments/naturopathic-medicine/
Chandler, S. (2017). Three major functions of a cell. Retrieved from:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/112921-major-functions-cell/
Freed, E. F., Bleichert, F., Dutca, L. M., & Baserga, S. J. (2010). When ribosomes go bad:
diseases of ribosome biogenesis. Molecular BioSystems, 6(3), 481-493.
Fruleux, A. & Hawkins, R. (2016). Physical role of the nucleus in cell migration. Journal of
Physics: Condensed matter, 28(36), 363002.
Integrative cancer answers (2018). Relief from chemotherapy side effects: natural medicine.
Retrieved from: http://www.integrativecanceranswers.com/relief-from-chemotherapy-
therapy-side-effects-natural-medicine/
IvyRose Holistic (2018). Cell function. Retrieved from:
http://www.ivyroses.com/Biology/Cells/Cell-Functions.php
Jain, R. K. (2013). Normalizing tumor microenvironment to treat cancer: bench to bedside to
biomarkers. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 31(17), 2205.
Most, R. D. V. D., Robinson, B. W. S., & Lake, R. A. (2009). Combining immunotherapy with
chemotherapy to treat cancer. Discovery Medicine, 5(27), 265-270.

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Peter, M. E. (2011). Programmed cell death: apoptosis meets necrosis. Nature, 471(7338),
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Petrosyan, A. (2015). Onco-Golgi: is fragmentation a gate to cancer progression?
Biochemistry & molecular biology journal, 1(1).
Sherwood, L. (2015). Human physiology: from cells to system. (9th Ed.). Boston, USA:
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Wallace, D. C. (2012). Mitochondria and cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer, 12(10), 685.
Waller, A., Forshaw, K., Bryant, J., & Mair, S. (2014). Interventions for preparing patients for
chemotherapy and radiotherapy: a Systematic Review. Supportive care in cancer,
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Wang, W., Groenendyl, J., & Michalak, M. (2014). Endoplasmic reticulum. Biochimica et
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