Cancers metastasize via seeding through blood or lymphatic vessels.
Dear Hemn, I think the majority (about 95%) of the malignant tumors can metastasize to the surrounding organs and tissue as I have this experience from my experiments in induced lung cancer, liver cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer and cervical cancer in murine model. TQ and best wishes.
Malignant tumors (cancers) are defined as tumors that invade nearby organs or metastasize to distant ones. In theory, all cancers can metastasize, although in practice, some, like the basal cell skin carcinoma mentioned above, do so very, very rarely.
On the other hand, benign tumors never invade or metastasize, by definition.
In clinical practice, my field, we usually only confront tumors with the ability for producing metastasis, or already having done it. My initial info about the tumors that do prodice metastasis was contained in B R Zetter, N Eng J Med 1990; PMID 2406604, perhaps in the list of connected publications, specific info about your query may result from this crossing references, and the author of this article published many articles on related sunjects, even when the information is close to fossile, having a look at the foundations sometimes helps in interpreting the building.
Gruß. Salut †
Cancers with origin in CNS 'Usually not metastatize'', you're right in the precission, Glioblastoma, Meningioma, Lymphoma, and some childhood CNS tumors do mestatize, but not them all, not all of them early in the disease course. Salut
It is a case of definition. "Malignant" is usually attached as an adjective to tumours because they do metastasize to other locations and tissues, but there are some that rarely do so, or only at very late stage or after undergoing subsequent change. It is difficult to say that a locally lethal tumour has not produced micro-metastases during its development.
"Malignant tumor" is defined as a neoplasia with the c a p a c i t y of invasion and metastatization, although this may not happen in an individual case. Probably in most of them ( if not all) there are already few cells of the neoplasia circulating in the host (patient) , but only less than 0,1% of these cells will give origin to clinically detectable metastases ih the future due to our immunologic defense. This explains, why only a part of the patients ( after erradication of the primary ) will develop- clinically relevant metastases.
Theoretically all of the malignant tumors have the ability to metastasize. However, there are exceptions. Some malignancies tend to damage the host in a local infiltration and local relapse rather than metastasis. Papillary thyroid carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are examples. Benign tissue could, sometimes, also migrant growing in distant site such as placental villi to the lungs.
Yes all malignant tumours can metastasize for other organ. However, it depends on type, severity, and the causative agents.
Cancers of CNS origin are possible to metastasize. Due to the increase in the production of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Vascular Permeability Factor (VPF) in brain cancer, it stimulate the endothelial cells of the micro vascular to be hyper permeable and increase the permeability of Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) to infiltrate the cancer cells . It has been found that the brain tumour expressing VEGF/VPF are leaky for cancer cells.
In addition, VEGF/VPF are multi functional cytokines that contribute into Angiogenesis.
Also, there are specific cells called Astrocytes (the star shaped cells in brain and spinal cord). These cells have the ability to surround the infiltrate the metastasized cells and protect the tumour from all tested chemo-theraptic agents.
As already said above, there are exceptions. Basal cell carcinoma of the skin does not metastasize. Enjoy your molecular biology.
Yes, with many peculiarities. Malignant brain tumors, and among them there exist very aggressive neoplasms, rarely metastatize. Metastases of one of the most frequent carcinomas of the organism, cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, are exceptional. But as a rule malignant behaviour of neoplasms implies widespread metastatic capacity. Most common targets are liver, lung, and bone. It is of interest that the kidney that receives a high blood flow receives few metastases. And there exist a relation or tendency between some cancers and targets. For instance, renal cell carcinoma and the thyroid, lobular carcinoma of the breast and abdominal organs, lung carcinomas and the adrenal gland, and so on. Very interesting, intriguing, and not explored aspect of disease.
can we attract CTCs to specific tissue? or what is the condition which can attract CTCs or chemical other than antibody
There are many interesting studies on the circulating tumor cells. However, circulating tumor cells only provide the potential for the metastasis. The chance of forming a metastatic tumor is small. The must condition will be the metastasis potential plus the local microenvironment. Only with the local microenvironment, can the metastatic tumor form. Thus the modern therapy always treat from tumor side and environment side.
So if i make nanofiber and i need to add (?) to nanofiber to trap ctcs . What you think that i should add to nanofiber
the malignancy is done not onlý by metastatic potential but also by localization. Some benign tumor located on the basis of brain are malign because of localization. on the other hand some skin cancers do not have metastatic potential but are recidivant after surgery
All cancers have the potential of distance metastasis and the latter is the wholemark of cancer. But as mentioned previously, the local conditions where the cancer cells are seeded are very important added to this is the growth (proliferation) potential of the malignant cells. We must also take into consideration the immunity status of the patient.Several tumours are locally malignat and few benign tumours are described as "benign metastasizing tumours. So it is a very complex process.
Yes I agree, for example metastasizing ameloblastoma is benign but still metastases. s whats the mechanism is yet t be unlocked..
The most of the promising theory is the cancer stem cell that implies the seeds of cancer spreading through different routes. There were numerous studies that cancer stem cells, rather than differentiated cancer cells, form metastasis tumors. But the current dilemma is that we could not differentiate the cancer stem cell from their benign counterparts. Should we have way to differentiate the cancer stem cells from normal stem cells, we would be able to kill them to cure the cancer and prevent the cancer from metastasis.
The interesting issue raised by Shaobo needs to be thoroughly investigated. Is that the cause of some metastatic tumours looking morphologically different from their primaries?or is that due to the new environment? So many questions need to be answered.
The vast majority of malignant tumors can metastasize to other organs. However, there are exceptions, e. g. basal cell carcinoma of the skin and gliomas of the brain invade underlying tissues but do not metastasize to other organs. In general primary malignant tumors of the brain do not metastasize outside the brain, for example to lymph nodes.liver, lungs or kidneys. On the other side metastases of carcinomas from various organs (e.g. lung, brest etc.) to the brain are common.
some sarcomas are locally infiltrating but hardly spread through lymphovascular emboli. On the other hand pleomorphic adenoma od salivary gland, though benign, may metastasize....
Malignant tumors could be cancers or carcinomas (epithelial), sarcomas (stromal), lymphomas (hematopoietic), melanoma, germ cell tumors etc....and generally metastasize....
Although dissemination is the hallmark of malignant tumors not all malignant tumors will metastasize, as was mentioned earlier. For instance, a malignant tumor within the brain is life threatening, but will probably not disseminate to any distant location.
Yes all malignant cancer cells have the potential to go faraway from the primary origin. This depends on different factors, the most important one is the persistence of the causative agents and the power of body response to tumour.
Not necessarily. Although many malignant tumors do metastasize to distant organs, some extremely malignant tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme tend to remain localized to the brain.
By mere designation of a tumor as malignant implies it will metastasize in time. The glioblastoma multiforme and other intercranial tumor mentioned as non-metastasiziing but lethal malignant tumors probably kill the patient or are ablated by treatment before they have the cahnce to spread beyond the primary site. Several occult malignant tumors are found at autopsies of people who have died from other causes. It has to be assumed that given time and as long as the tumor is morphologically malignant, metastasis would occur. The host has to be alife for metastasis to occur.
Malignancy is a description of the behaviour of neoplastic cells. If the definition you use to determine malignancy requires metastasis to other organs , then the asnwer to your question is "yes". If the definition you use to determine malignancy does not required metastasis, then the answer to your question is "no". The terms "malgnant" and "benign" are constructsand are not absolute .
Many explanations and thoughts :) I just want to say that i firmly agree with Gershon Ejeckam and his explanation about time that is needed for disemination and the one to cause death!
Basal cell carcinoma can give metastasizes in low percent but it absolutely can.
Private question to Nikola: do you have something to do with 'Stajanov, the worker' who was granted the title of 'Hero of the Soviet Union' for proposing a differential remuneration on productivity, the so called 'Stajanovism' or 'Piecework'?
Thanks for your contribution. Salud +
Regarding the process of metastasis, and of tumor disease outcome in general, there's an interesting article entitled: 'The dynamics of death in Prostate cancer', by Vollmer RT, PMID 22586055
Basal cell carcinomas of the face deeply invade but characteristically do not metastasize. It's an interesting exception.
The two most important issues you look for in a tumour are: (1) its morphology, most important are number of mitoses and chromatin appearance and pattern, perhaps more specific is to look objectively for proliferation ( Ki67 immunostainig).
(2) Behaviour and this includes , among others, the rate of growth and metastasis. But life is not always easy as some even non-neoplastic conditions grow very fast like nodular fasciitis and some malignant tumors grow very slowly and do not metastasize like basal cell carcinoma. So it is a very comlex issue and a lot of information is needed before giving the diagnosis of cancer. Fortionately most of the malignant tumours are straightfoward and easy to diagnose and of course experience plays an important role.
Manar's answer is the direct simple answer to the question, but in reality the issue is more complex and this why a lot of answers and opinions were contributed by a large number of colleagues. Some issues of cancer behaviour need more research and I am sure a lot will come forward in this era of microarrys , DNA sequencing and microRNA technology.
Isaac Peral, inventor and constructor of the first practical submarine, his secret was an automated device that kept constant the inmersion depth, died after having surgery in Germany for a basal skin cancer
Jose's answer is an interesting history to know about the inventor and constructor of the submarine, but it is one of few such examples and after all was BCC the direct cause of his death? Thank you Jose, anyway, for this interesting informatiom.
I'd say yes, he died because his BSC or from direct complications of surgery, I don't remember well, but it may have been a bacteriane CNS infection. Thanks for the interest. Those who studied his life reported that while he was in his home's living room discussing his invention with some alien possible purchasers, the shoes of two persons hidden behind a curtain were visible. Salut †
Nearly all malignant tumors have the ability to metastasize providing that these malignant tumors(cancers) develop new genetic mutations enabling them for metastasis, because if they lack these mutated genes they will most probably stay at there site of origin. As above professors mentioned there are exceptions, e.g:basal cell carcinoma it has the ability for local invasion and destruction but never metastasize, probably due to the lack of genes responsible for metastasis.
Metastasis is a complicated process. It is well known now that circulating tumor cells is no longer viewed as synonyms as metastasis. Tumor cells (rather tumor stem cells) from their original anatomical site work as seeds, however, the seeds must have proper soil in order to germinate. Thus the study must be focus to multiple aspects, saying seeds, route, soil, signals and feeding. Break any site of a chain will render the tumor cells from failure of metastasis. Physical barrier, close tumor conjugating, not accessible route (lymph or blood), or lack of distant site paracrine factors may restraint the metastasis process. All of the factors should be viewed as aspects of a single process.
Clonality study revealed that the primary and metastasis tumors are genetically related. Although some genetic divergent have been reported, there still lack of solid evidence that any specific mutation in gene or genes related to tumor metastasis. The ability of forming metastasis may have been the nature property of most, if not all, malignant tumors, which, may not be necessarily needing further mutations.
Depend on the tumor types of interesting. For example, some borderline malignant tumor of soft tissue can metasize to other organs, however, some other borderline malignant tumor of soft tissue can not metastasize, but just locally infiltrate.
The seeds must have proper soil in order to germinate . No more than seed and soil
No.Metastasis is an very rare event in some malignant tumors for exaple:Bcc,Verrucouscarcinoma,..
Not necessary all malignant tumor metastasis to other organs. This depend on the type of the tumor . Generally carcinoma can metastasis while sarcoma is not.
Not all malignant cells can metastasize to other organ. Each cancer mass contains many subclones that arise from one main clone. These subclones may confer further support for cancer to be more aggressive. Few subclones possess the ability to move far from primary site. Cytogenetic studies found that there are specific subclone that can metastasize.
In theory they can, in practice there are some preferences. For example: malignant tumors of CNS (gliomas) almost never metastasize outsiside CNS, whereas many carcinomas metastasize to CNS (some, eg. lung adenocarcinomas even prefer CNS meta). Another example: Gastro intestinal carcinomas preferentially metastasize to the liver, whereas some soft tissue sarcomas "like" metastasize to the lungs.
It depends on your definition of malignant. Generally malignancy is regarded as an ability to spread into surrounding and distant tissues (metastasis) so by this definition all malignant tumours have the potential to metastasise.
All malignant tumors invade surrounding tissues and a vast majority of them also CAN (but do not have to) metastasize. However, there are malignant tumors that only invade the surrounding tissues but very rarely metastasize e. g. basal cell carcinomas of the skin (the most common invasive cancer in humans).
A neoplasm that does not spread to other tissues is described as benign, however it may cause damage at the site where it grows. A malignant tumor spreads to another part of the body (metastasizes to other tissues).
"Cancers metastasize via seeding through blood or lymphatic vessels."
Are you sure this accounts for all cases of spread? How about along nerves or connective tissue, or other still unknown pathways?
1. Nat Cell Biol. 2015 May 29;17(6):709-11. doi: 10.1038/ncb3181.
A niche role for cancer exosomes in metastasis.
Zhang Y(1), Wang XF(2).
Author information:
(1)Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142,
USA. (2)Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical
Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Cancer cells are known to secrete exosomes with pro-metastatic effects.
Pancreatic-cancer-derived exosomes are now shown to promote liver metastasis by
eliciting pre-metastatic niche formation through a multi-step process. This
involves uptake of exosome-derived factors by liver Kupffer cells and hepatic
stellate cell activation to generate a fibrotic microenvironment with immune cell
infiltrates that favours metastasis.
PMID: 26022917 [PubMed - in process]
as mentioned above cancer spreads mainly by lymphatics (carcinomas) and by blood (sarcomas) but other routes include: body cavities (Kruckenberge' tumor), intra- epidermal (Paget's disease), intracellular spread and iatrogenic. Tumour metastasis depends on many factors: nature of tumour, differentiation, location, immunity of patient. For example basal cell carcinomas are locally malignant and rarely, if ever, they metastasize. On the other hand there are very aggressive tumours which have widespread metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis. Tumours can metastasize to virtually any tissue in the body, but lungs, liver, brain, bone and suprarenal glands are the commonest sites. Special types of metastases occur like perineural spread and retrograde venous. Some authorities alleged that there are what are called " benign metastasizing tumours". In conclusion it is not a rule that all malignant tumours metastasize but they have the potential to do so depending on many host and tumour factors and that any person with cancer may have free tumour cells circulating in his or her blood but whether to settle and grow in a distant different tissue can not be predicted and lastly the most characteristic feature of cancer is metastasis.
no
not all cancer(malignant) metastasis like basal cell carcinoma is malignant but not metstasis
Also high grade astrocytomas (glioblastoma) do not metastasize to other organs outside the brain.
I agree with Jarad and Momma, with the exception for glioblastomas in very rare cases.
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