A conceptual model of cell division in neoplasia

A model of cell division as it occurs in the neoplastic cell is presented. The two basic features of the model are that firstly cell division is autonomous and secondly it is incomplete because not all of the processes which take place during normal division occur in the disordered division of neoplasia. As a result cellular structures may not be replicated along with the rest of the cell and they are therefore deficient. The deficiency of particular structures is then used to explain certain observations made of neoplastic cells eg. disturbances of metabolism and morphology, heterogeneity of the cell population, malignancy and immortalisation. Oncogenes are then introduced into the model in an attempt to understand their role in the development of cancer.