Is Cancer Really a Genetic Disease?

With the launch of the Human Genome Project over 25 years ago, a great deal of excitement was generated over science’s potential ability to identify specific genetic causes of disease. This was especially true for cancer. Promises of innovative diagnostic tests to identify genetic mutations, coupled with medications to target this abnormal DNA, meant that cancer treatment would be forever changed – with a cure possibly on the horizon.

Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

When we examine a cancer cell, it has several key features which distinguish it from a normal, healthy cell. Several unique abilities of cancer cells include:

• Evading the immune …read more