• Question: what cells are in a tumor?

    Asked by Derynxx to Frank, Ian, Isabel, Jared, Zena on 13 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Isabel Pires

      Isabel Pires answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      There are actually quite a few different types of cells in a tumour, which most people don’t realise!

      There are the tumour cells themselves, which are changed, mutated, aggressive versions of the normal tissue where the cancer has started. But that is not all…

      There are also immune cells (such as white blood cells), which are attracted to the tumour to try and kill it off, but can then cage and actually help it grow and spread.

      There are also cells that we call fibroblasts, which are cells that help to support and give structure to the tumour.

      There can also be fat cells, that can again help the tumour to grow by storing fat to feed it.

      There are finally the cells that make up the blood vessels that surround and feed the tumour, as well as the red blood cells within these.

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