Are cancer cells organisms?

This is a really interesting question! At the start of the evolutionary process by which normal cells gradually become cancerous, the cells are definitely not distinct organisms - they're component parts of a multicellular organism. read more

Cancer is what happens when one of the cells in the body "forgets" that it's supposed to be part of a multicellular organism, and starts acting like one of its single cell organism ancestors instead. read more

"Cancer is comparable to a bacterial level of complexity, but still autonomous, that is, it doesn't depend on other cells for survival; it doesn't follow orders like other cells in the body, and it can grow where, when and how it likes," Peter Duesberg, molecular and cell biology professor of the U of C, in a paper published in the July 1 issue of the journal "Cell Cycle," said. read more

Cancer occurs when single cells escape the tyranny of the multi-cellular organism and begin to evolve within the host. A single cell organism only “cares” about its own self-interests The structure and behavior of single cell organisms is geared to promote the survival of the cell and its capacity to reproduce. read more