Tumor Progression and Metastasis
Start with the big picture
Progression involves clonal evolution and increasing genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, which can support more aggressive behavior. Metastasis proceeds through local invasion, entry into vessels, survival in circulation, exit into distant tissue, and colonization. The lesson’s structure explores mechanisms that help cells move through these stages, including loss of cell-cell adhesion, extracellular matrix degradation, motility, resistance to anoikis, and angiogenesis. It also introduces dissemination routes, organ tropism, EMT and MET, and the possibility that micrometastatic disease remains dormant. Together, these concepts explain how metastatic spread develops and why metastasis is a key feature of malignant tumors.
What you'll learn
- Describe clonal evolution and its relationship to tumor heterogeneity and progression.
- Outline the sequential stages of the metastatic cascade.
- Explain how adhesion loss, matrix degradation, and motility contribute to invasion.
- Identify mechanisms that support tumor-cell survival, dissemination, and colonization.
- Summarize the roles of EMT, MET, organ tropism, and dormancy in metastasis.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
