Can Heart Muscle Cells Mutate into Cancer Cells?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the possibility of heart muscle cells mutating into cancer cells, exploring the relationship between heart cells and cancer development. It touches on concepts from cell biology and cancer biology, including the nature of cell division and environmental factors influencing cancer.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether heart muscle cells can mutate into cancer cells, noting a lack of mention of heart cancer in literature.
  • Another participant suggests that all nucleated cells can potentially develop into cancer cells, emphasizing that heart cancers would likely be environmentally induced rather than hereditary.
  • It is noted that cancers typically arise in actively dividing cells, while heart cells are non-dividing, complicating repair processes after myocardial infarctions.
  • The occurrence of angiosarcoma, a cancer affecting the lining of blood vessels, is mentioned as a type of cancer that can occur in the heart.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the potential for heart muscle cells to develop into cancer cells, with some suggesting environmental causes and others highlighting the non-dividing nature of heart cells as a limiting factor. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific mechanisms and likelihood of such mutations.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding assumptions about cell division and cancer development, as well as the specific environmental factors that may contribute to cancer in heart cells.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying cell biology, cancer biology, or individuals curious about the relationship between heart health and cancer development.

TheSkyKing
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If anyone has read my posts you are probably aware that I take a great interest in cell and cancer biology. So for my next question I want to ask about cancer once again. Now from reading different books and viewing different sites I have come to learn of cancers of the neck, head, bone, muscle, you name it. But one thing I never did see mention in association with cancer is the heart. Is it possible for the heart to develop cancer cells, or more precisely is it possible for the musscle cells in the heart to mutate into cancer cells? :confused:
 
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I'm thinking that all cells in the body that are nucleated can develop into cancer cells. Since the heart has such an essential function to the survival of humans, any cancer that develops in heart cells would probably not be heriditary, and would be caused by environmental effects.

Another point would be that cancers usually develop in actively dividing cells (e.g. breast cancer, skin cancer). Cells in the heart are non-dividing, hence myocardial infarctions are very difficult to repair. This is one of the reasons why stem cell research is so popular; stem cells can mature into any type of cell given the appropriate environment and factors.

Angiosarcoma is a cancer in the lining of blood vessels, and has been known to occur in the heart.

K
 
kalladin said:
I'm thinking that all cells in the body that are nucleated can develop into cancer cells. Since the heart has such an essential function to the survival of humans, any cancer that develops in heart cells would probably not be heriditary, and would be caused by environmental effects.

Another point would be that cancers usually develop in actively dividing cells (e.g. breast cancer, skin cancer). Cells in the heart are non-dividing, hence myocardial infarctions are very difficult to repair. This is one of the reasons why stem cell research is so popular; stem cells can mature into any type of cell given the appropriate environment and factors.

Angiosarcoma is a cancer in the lining of blood vessels, and has been known to occur in the heart.

K

Your answer sounds right on target.
http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=0007617E-75E8-1C71-9EB7809EC588F2D7
 
thank you very much you two. makes perfect sense.
 

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