Can cancer be a pathogen?

[MS6842]

I just had my biology exam this morning (VCE) and there was a question about whether a certain type of cancerous tumour could be considered a pathogen. I said no, 'cos pathogens are disease causing organisms and cancer is not an organism.Is there any way in which that is correct? Please?Sombody?

[MasterPython0616]

Cancer can be caused by viruses but tumors are not really infectious in the same way as other diseases are.

[qetzal]

Actually, there are one or two examples of infectious, transmissible tumors. See the link below on canine transmissible veneral tumor. I think there is a similar example that affects Tazmanian devils.

[BobD9523]

No, I do not believe that one can call cancer a pathogen, or disease causing agent. People say that cancer is many diseases, but I feel uncomfortable with that discription. I do not believe that cancer is a disease. Its something else, but not a disease.Disease are usually caused by bacteria, viruses and related infection and can be communicated to other people or organisms; not so with cancer. If a host has cancer, their immune system fails to "see" the cancer related antigens on the surface of cancer cells. Take those same cancer cells and inject them into another host, another person, and that individual's immune system will detect the presence of cancer cells and destroy them before they have a chance to gain a hold in the body.As such, I think that you were correct in your answer.See: What is a Pathogen?http://www.blurtit.com/q628418.html

[grouchy_elmo3442]

Small world. Lol. I just had my VCE Biology Exam today as well. How do think you went. I'm expecting a good mark .Umm....to answer your question: I said that cancer was a pathogen because although it may not be a non-self agent, it still intereferes with the organisms normal functioning. Therefore, cancer must be a pathogen.