When we try to understand how cancer spreads to other parts of the body, there are a few important ideas to keep in mind:
Cell Diversity: Tumors are not just a bunch of the same cells squished together; they are made up of different types of cells. Some of these cells are more aggressive and can invade other tissues more easily.
Surrounding Environment: The area around the tumor matters a lot. Things like immune cells, the structure of nearby tissues, and different signaling molecules can either stop or help cancer spread.
How Cells Spread: There are certain processes that help tumor cells move and invade other areas. One key process is called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (or EMT). This is when tumor cells gain the ability to move around and spread out.
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs): It’s important to understand how these tumor cells manage to survive in the bloodstream and create new tumors elsewhere.
In summary, cancer spreading is a mix of complex biology and how the tumor interacts with its surroundings!
When we try to understand how cancer spreads to other parts of the body, there are a few important ideas to keep in mind:
Cell Diversity: Tumors are not just a bunch of the same cells squished together; they are made up of different types of cells. Some of these cells are more aggressive and can invade other tissues more easily.
Surrounding Environment: The area around the tumor matters a lot. Things like immune cells, the structure of nearby tissues, and different signaling molecules can either stop or help cancer spread.
How Cells Spread: There are certain processes that help tumor cells move and invade other areas. One key process is called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (or EMT). This is when tumor cells gain the ability to move around and spread out.
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs): It’s important to understand how these tumor cells manage to survive in the bloodstream and create new tumors elsewhere.
In summary, cancer spreading is a mix of complex biology and how the tumor interacts with its surroundings!