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.
Many types of cancers may be sufficiently treated by employing surgery and radiotherapy. The two forms of treatment may be successfully employed in the destruction or removal of primary tumors. Nevertheless, mortality and morbidity in most patients are as a result of the movement of malignant cells. Treatment of the disease would be easier if a method can be found for stopping metastasis 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.
The movement of tumor cells does not happen in a strange way. The cells do not float out of a tissue. Instead, they crawl. They do this by basically reacting to factors within their environment. They extend finger-like extensions of their cell that allow them to move forward. To be able to move forward, they have to alter their ability to adhere to other cells in the body and the protein matrix.
Studies hold that the metastasis process is largely inefficient. Only 0.01 percent of malignant cells that make their way into the blood stream result in metastasis. Nevertheless, scientists still lack the capacity to tell if and when malignant cells will end up being metastatic. At the time of treatment, cancer evaluations are normally founded on the capacity of the cells to get 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.
Many types of cancers may be sufficiently treated by employing surgery and radiotherapy. The two forms of treatment may be successfully employed in the destruction or removal of primary tumors. Nevertheless, mortality and morbidity in most patients are as a result of the movement of malignant cells. Treatment of the disease would be easier if a method can be found for stopping metastasis 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.
The movement of tumor cells does not happen in a strange way. The cells do not float out of a tissue. Instead, they crawl. They do this by basically reacting to factors within their environment. They extend finger-like extensions of their cell that allow them to move forward. To be able to move forward, they have to alter their ability to adhere to other cells in the body and the protein matrix.
Studies hold that the metastasis process is largely inefficient. Only 0.01 percent of malignant cells that make their way into the blood stream result in metastasis. Nevertheless, scientists still lack the capacity to tell if and when malignant cells will end up being metastatic. At the time of treatment, cancer evaluations are normally founded on the capacity of the cells to get 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.
About the Author:
Get to know the important facts about Cancer metastasis research and how it is progressing in the medical world. To read more about this topic, visit http://www.cytocapsula.com/about-cytocapsula.
No comments:
Post a Comment