Metastasis is a broad term, which might involve angiogenesis and invasion. Tumours can develop vasculature. This process is characterised by the production of cytokines by both the cancer and blood vessels. In turn, the blood vessels migrate towards the cancer cells. Then, the cancer cells in the tumour can migrate to other organs via blood vessels. Invasion is another means by which cancers can move to other organs. In invasion, cancers can express several enzymes that break down surrounding tissues and acquire motility.

Thank you, Dr Zohaib Rana

Hello Mohammad Nasfikur Rahman Khan

When cancer is initiated and starts growing, the tumor tissue requires nutrients and oxygen because the tumor cells are rapidly dividing. It is this requirement of the tumor that causes stimulation of angiogenesis. The angiogenic stimulators like VEGF are released by the tumor cells which in its presence endothelial cells will proliferate and migrate, eventually forming tube structures resembling capillaries. VEGF causes a signaling cascade in endothelial cells. Thus, formation of new blood vessels will satisfy the nutritional and oxygen requirements of the growing tumor. The growing tumor can invade the surrounding tissue with the help of matrix metalloproteinases that participate in the degradation of ECM components, including the basement membrane and the tumor surface, resulting in tumor cell migration into the nearby tissue. Thereafter the cancer cells undergo intravasation into the surrounding vasculature or lymphatic system and survive in circulation, and then undergo extravasation from vasculature to secondary tissue to form secondary tumor, a process known as metastasis.

Thus, the relationship between angiogenesis and metastasis is that the tumor micro vessel density is directly related to increased metastatic potential and therefore leading to poor survival in all forms of cancer.

I hope this is helpful.

Best.