Question

Which of the following correctly describes angiogenesis with respect to cancer?

• A. Formation of blood vessels that allow tumor cells to pass certain checkpoints in the cell cycle
• B. Formation of new blood vessels that provide the tumor with nutrients and oxygen
• C. Movement of cancer cells through the body inducing the production of more red blood cells
• D. Movement of cancer cells from one part of the body to another to spread the tumor to a new location

Answer 1

The correct option is B Formation of new blood vessels that provide the tumor with nutrients and oxygen

In normal proliferating cells, growth of cells is maintained by checkpoints.

Certain mutations in cells can result in disabling checkpoints. Such cells may undergo uncontrolled cell division leading to the formation of tumours.

Such rapidly dividing cells need a rich supply of oxygen and nutrients and hence new blood vessels are formed from the existing blood vessels, allowing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients.

This process of formation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels is called angiogenesis.

The tumors formed may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Malignant tumors are cancerous in nature which means that they will grow quickly and spread to other normal tissues of the body. This characteristic of spreading of cancer is known as metastasis.