If a cancerous cell grows without order, our immune system is responsible for fighting against it. If the immune system is not able to recognise the cell, it can’t be destroyed and the uncontrolled division continous. The result is the accumulation of so called tumour stem cells which sustain the growth of tumours. The surrounding human tissue is damaged and changes become palpable.
To date little is known about these cells and for the development of new treatments specifically targeting these highly malignant cells it is crucial to know which alterations they bear from the very first stages of their malignancy.
The Fact is that nearly every cell in the human body can become a tumour stem cell. We differentiate between various types of cancer, depending on the location of the malignant cell.
In the case of colon cancer the malignant cells enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and spread this way from the original tumour to form new ones (e.g. in the liver). They invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs and extend to distant organs, building so called metastasis. Due to this break away, the intestinal mucosa is affected and blood is exuded through the stool. Once metastasis has occurred in intestinal cancer, a complete cure of the cancer is unlikely.
Chronic infections (hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis) can aid the development of liver cancer by repeatedly causing the body's own immune system to attack the liver cells. Vaccination against hepatitis may therefore help prevent developing a tumour.
The most effective way of prevention is early detection. Therefore, it is recommended that all individuals over the age of 40 have yearly examinations and have their stool tested for hidden blood.