Metastasis as a term derives from a Greek term, which means change of place in the English language. In cancer metastasis research, tumor metastasis is known as the process through which tumor cells move from their original cancer site to other places within the body. The complexity of the process is high and it is only partially understood in modern research. The full understanding of the process is yet to be established by research at biochemical and molecular levels.
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.
The lymphatic drainage is usually the preferred escape route for most tumor cells. This is the reason why a doctor performs a biopsy of the lymphatic node for determining whether the spread of cancerous cells has occurred. From there, they can get into the bloodstream. Cancerous cells can also enter the bloodstream from the blood vessels that are in the primary tumor besides the lymphatic vessels.
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.
The lymphatic drainage is usually the preferred escape route for most tumor cells. This is the reason why a doctor performs a biopsy of the lymphatic node for determining whether the spread of cancerous cells has occurred. From there, they can get into the bloodstream. Cancerous cells can also enter the bloodstream from the blood vessels that are in the primary tumor besides the lymphatic vessels.
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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