Researching the underlying causes of cancer
Although there is a great amount of complexity in neoplastic diseases, cancer cells exhibit distinct attributes across tumor types that enable them to grow and metastasize to distant organs.1
Based on decades of cumulative preclinical knowledge and evidence-based analyses, leading scientists finally came up with a logical framework to identify the 6 hallmark features that distinguish a tumor cell from its nonmalignant counterpart. This happened in the year 2000. Over the years, these foundational hallmarks have helped the oncology community appreciate the underlying biological principles operating in a tumor cell.1
However, recent studies have identified 2 additional hallmark features and 2 enabling characteristics that aid in the carcinogenic process. Collectively, these hallmark features provide a broad mechanistic framework within which the multistep transformation of a premalignant cell to its lethal metastatic counterpart is understood.1
Click on a Hallmark of Cancer below to learn more
Reprogramming energy metabolism
Cancer cells acquire the capability to modify, or reprogram, cellular metabolic pathways to support increased cell proliferation.1
Click to learn moreSustaining proliferative signaling
Cancer cells dysregulate normal growth signaling to sustain ongoing proliferation.1
Click to learn moreEnabling replicative immortality
Cancer cells overexpress telomerase in order to replicate indefinitely.1
Click to learn moreGenome instability and mutation
Cancer cells take advantage of successive mutations in order to foster tumorigenesis.1
Click to learn moreActivating invasion and metastasis
The process of invasion and metastasis involves a series of steps ending in colonization of foreign tissue.1
Click to learn moreTumor-promoting inflammation
Inflammation provides the microenvironment with factors that may aid in tumor growth.1
Click to learn moreInducing angiogenesis
The formation of new blood vessels is critical for sustained tumor growth and metastasis.1
Click to learn moreResisting cell death
Tumor cells evade apoptosis (programmed cell death) by dysregulating 2 apoptotic pathways.1
Click to learn moreEvading immune destruction
In this process, cancer cells evade destruction by lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells.1
Click to learn moreEvading growth suppressors
In order to continue growing, cancer cells must circumvent normal growth signaling.1
Click to learn moreThis image was adapted with permission from Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Cell. 2011;144:646-674. Copyright ©2011, with permission from Elsevier.
Through a deep commitment to science, Genentech is dedicated to defining the molecular basis of cancer and to translating this knowledge into the development of novel biologic and small-molecule agents that target the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread.
Reference
- 1.
- Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell. 2011;144:646-674. PMID: 21376230