Question

What is metastasis?

Options

• The natural immune response that destroys all cancerous cells

• The process by which cancer cells spread from the primary site to distant organs via the bloodstream or lymphatic system

• The process of controlled cell growth in benign tumours

• The formation of a protective capsule around abnormal cells

Answer 1

Metastasis is the defining characteristic of malignant cancers, wherein cancer cells break away from the primary tumour and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to reach distant organs. During this process, cancer cells establish new colonies at distant sites, forming secondary tumours and significantly increasing the danger and complexity of the disease.