Select the statements which do not hold true for Cancer:

A. Cancerous cells show a property of contact inhibition.

B. Metastasis is the most feared property of malignant tumors.

C. Malignant tumor cells invade and damage the surrounding tissue.

D. Malignant tumor cells grows slowly.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A and D only

The correct answer is Option (3) –A and D only

Cancer is a highly feared and prevalent disease worldwide, responsible for a significant number of deaths, including over a million cases in India each year.

In our bodies, cell growth and differentiation are meticulously controlled and regulated. However, cancer cells exhibit a breakdown of these regulatory mechanisms. Normally, healthy cells possess a property known as contact inhibition, where contact with neighboring cells prevents uncontrolled growth. Cancer cells, unfortunately, seem to have lost this property. Consequently, they continue to divide uncontrollably, leading to the formation of masses of cells known as tumors.

There are two main types of tumors: benign and malignant.

Benign tumors typically remain localized in their original location and do not spread to other parts of the body, causing minimal harm.

In contrast, malignant tumors consist of rapidly growing cells, called neoplastic or tumor cells. These cells grow aggressively, invading and damaging the surrounding healthy tissues. As they actively divide and expand, they also compete with normal cells for essential nutrients, depriving them of sustenance.

Cells shed from malignant tumors can travel through the bloodstream to distant locations in the body, where they initiate the formation of new tumors. This dangerous property, known as metastasis, is the most dreaded characteristic of malignant tumors.