When human cells are transformed into cells that resemble cancer cells, this process is known as "lysogenization." This transformation is important because cancer cells can grow and spread more easily when they have cells that look like the cells from which they arose. Moreover, lysogenization can be a sign that the cells are ready to undergo a transformation that leads to cancer.

Lysogenization is often accompanied by changes in the cells' metabolism. For example, cancer cells take up more glucose than regular cells, and they secrete chemicals that kill other cells. In addition, cancer cells often grow faster and divide more times than normal cells.