Metastasis is a Greek word that translates to change of place in the English language. In cancer metastasis research, tumor metastasis refers to the process of movement of tumor cells from original site of the cancer to other parts within the body. This process is fairly complex and according to modern research, it is only partially understood. Research at molecular and biochemical levels has yet to come up with a complete understanding of this process.
Surgery and radiation therapy can be used to adequately treat most cancers. The two treatment choices can either be used to remove or destroy the primary tumor successfully. However, what is contributing to mortality and morbidity in most cancer patients is the spread of tumor cells to secondary locations in the body. It would be very simple for the treatment of the disease to be done if only metastasis can be stopped from happening.
Researchers usually compare tumor metastatic process to marathon. When tumors develop, they invade the solid tissues around the primary site first. Body tissues are usually complex and they contain several different cells. For instance, they contain fibroblasts, which provide solid support, immune cells, and lymphatic drainage. Fibroblasts provide a barrier, which tumor cells must go past. As an adaptation, the tumor cells develop the ability to move.
Malignant cell movement is not a strange event. Cells crawl, as opposed to floating out of the tissue. They achieve this by fundamentally acting in response to environmental factors. They stretch their finger-like projections that enable their forward movement. For them to move, they must change their capacity to stick to other body cells and protein matrix in the body.
Research indicates that the process of metastasis is very inefficient. Only 0.01 percent of tumor cells that enter the blood stream end up forming a metastasis. Researchers are however still unable to determine when and if tumor cells will become metastatic. During treatment, cancers are usually evaluated based on their ability to become metastatic.
Therefore, the ability of a cancer to metastasize determines the treatment a patient gets. The more advanced the cancer is, the higher the chances of metastasizing. As a result, there is more aggressiveness involved in treating advanced cancers than that involved in treating those in an early stage. There are two main streams that cancerous cells can metastasize in, which are, the lymphatic vessels and the bloodstream.
Most cancer cells usually prefer escaping through the lymphatic drainage system. That is why a doctor will usually take a biopsy of the lymphatic nodes to determine if cancerous cells have spread. From the lymphatic vessels, the cells can then enter the bloodstream. Besides entering the bloodstream from lymphatic vessels, cancerous cells can also enter the blood stream directly from blood vessels in the primary tumor.
Most tumor cells die when they enter the bloodstream as it is a very harsh environment. This is because it has immune cells and blood flows at a high speed. However, some end up in different organs where they grow into tumors.
Surgery and radiation therapy can be used to adequately treat most cancers. The two treatment choices can either be used to remove or destroy the primary tumor successfully. However, what is contributing to mortality and morbidity in most cancer patients is the spread of tumor cells to secondary locations in the body. It would be very simple for the treatment of the disease to be done if only metastasis can be stopped from happening.
Researchers usually compare tumor metastatic process to marathon. When tumors develop, they invade the solid tissues around the primary site first. Body tissues are usually complex and they contain several different cells. For instance, they contain fibroblasts, which provide solid support, immune cells, and lymphatic drainage. Fibroblasts provide a barrier, which tumor cells must go past. As an adaptation, the tumor cells develop the ability to move.
Malignant cell movement is not a strange event. Cells crawl, as opposed to floating out of the tissue. They achieve this by fundamentally acting in response to environmental factors. They stretch their finger-like projections that enable their forward movement. For them to move, they must change their capacity to stick to other body cells and protein matrix in the body.
Research indicates that the process of metastasis is very inefficient. Only 0.01 percent of tumor cells that enter the blood stream end up forming a metastasis. Researchers are however still unable to determine when and if tumor cells will become metastatic. During treatment, cancers are usually evaluated based on their ability to become metastatic.
Therefore, the ability of a cancer to metastasize determines the treatment a patient gets. The more advanced the cancer is, the higher the chances of metastasizing. As a result, there is more aggressiveness involved in treating advanced cancers than that involved in treating those in an early stage. There are two main streams that cancerous cells can metastasize in, which are, the lymphatic vessels and the bloodstream.
Most cancer cells usually prefer escaping through the lymphatic drainage system. That is why a doctor will usually take a biopsy of the lymphatic nodes to determine if cancerous cells have spread. From the lymphatic vessels, the cells can then enter the bloodstream. Besides entering the bloodstream from lymphatic vessels, cancerous cells can also enter the blood stream directly from blood vessels in the primary tumor.
Most tumor cells die when they enter the bloodstream as it is a very harsh environment. This is because it has immune cells and blood flows at a high speed. However, some end up in different organs where they grow into tumors.
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