Experimental Tumor Metastasis: Characteristics and Organ Specificity.

The article presents information on the development of tumor metastasis. The author informs that malignant cells possess the properties of invasion into surrounding normal tissues and dissemination to form secondary tumors (metastases) at near and distant host sites. The development of tumor metastasis can be divided into several discrete steps including extension of invasion of cells from the primary tumor into surrounding host tissues, penetration of tumor cells into body cavities, lymphatics and blood vessels. The author comments that the spread of tumors through blood-borne metastasis is usually the final pathogenic phase of fatal neoplastic disease.