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Metastasis and Cancer Spread definitions

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  • Metastasis
    Spread of malignant cells from a primary site to distant organs, often via blood or lymph, forming new tumors.
  • Primary Tumor
    Original mass of abnormal cells where cancer first develops before spreading to other locations.
  • Bloodstream
    Main route for cancer cells to travel throughout the body, enabling distant organ invasion.
  • Lymph Node
    Small immune structure often colonized early by migrating cancer cells before further dissemination.
  • Tumor Microenvironment
    Local surroundings of a tumor, including nutrients and growth factors, influencing cancer progression.
  • Angiogenesis
    Formation of new blood vessels supplying tumors with oxygen and nutrients, essential for tumor survival.
  • Rho GTPase
    Regulatory protein implicated in controlling cancer cell movement and metastatic potential.
  • Growth Factors
    Molecules in the tumor environment that stimulate cancer cell proliferation and survival.
  • Oxygen
    Vital molecule delivered by blood vessels, required for tumor cell metabolism and growth.
  • Secondary Tumor
    New cancerous mass formed at a distant site after cells leave the original tumor.
  • Cancer Treatment
    Therapeutic strategies, such as blocking blood vessel formation, aimed at inhibiting tumor growth.
  • Nutrients
    Essential substances from the microenvironment that support tumor cell survival and expansion.