Hallmarks of Cancer

The "Hallmarks of Cancer" are characteristics that enable cancer cells to grow uncontrollably and spread. These include sustaining growth signals, evading the immune system’s defenses, resisting cell death, and creating new blood vessels to nourish tumors. Cancer cells can also become flexible in how they use energy, invade nearby tissues, and spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). Understanding these traits helps scientists develop targeted treatments to stop cancer from progressing. Essentially, these hallmarks describe the complex ways cancer cells bypass normal controls to survive and thrive.