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Left, intact epithelium is a continuous sheet with an electrical potential across it, and signal molecules produced on one side (green) that cannot reach receptors (yellow) on the other side. A basement membrane (grey) separates epithelium from other cells. When the sheet is broken, as in a wound, cells change shape (‘EMT’) and send signals that include electric currents and interaction between signal molecules and receptors. The basement membrane may be breached, bringing epithelial cells in contact with other cells. Defence and repair cells (blue) respond. Right, in cancers, the epithelial sheet is disrupted, activating the same wound-healing changes.

Cancers are like wounds because they are damaged tissue

Cancers resemble wounds. The question is why, and what does this mean? Many features of cancers – the so-called ‘Hallmarks of Cancer’ – may be mostly a wound-healing response. Dr Paul Edwards, Emeritus Reader at the University of Cambridge explores.

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