m (Metastasis) - Histology

What is Metastasis?

Metastasis refers to the process by which tumor cells spread from the primary location to distant sites in the body. This is a hallmark of malignancy and a critical factor in the prognosis of cancer patients. Metastasis involves a complex series of steps known as the metastatic cascade.

How Does Metastasis Occur?

Metastasis occurs through several stages:

Local invasion: The primary tumor invades surrounding tissues.
Intravasation: Tumor cells enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Circulation: Tumor cells travel through the body via the blood or lymph.
Extravasation: Tumor cells exit the bloodstream or lymphatic system to invade new tissues.
Colonization: Tumor cells establish a new tumor at the distant site.

What are the Histological Characteristics of Metastatic Cells?

Histologically, metastatic cells often exhibit features that distinguish them from normal cells and even from the primary tumor. These features include:

Anaplasia: Lack of differentiation and abnormal cell structure.
Hyperchromatism: Increased staining intensity due to higher DNA content.
Pleomorphism: Variability in cell size and shape.
Mitotic figures: Increased number of cells undergoing mitosis.

How is Metastasis Detected in Histology?

Detection of metastasis in histology usually involves immunohistochemistry (IHC) and specific staining techniques. Markers such as cytokeratin and vimentin can help identify epithelial and mesenchymal cells, respectively. Additionally, pathologists look for clusters of abnormal cells in tissues where they don't typically belong, such as lymph nodes or distant organs like the liver and lungs.

What are the Clinical Implications of Metastasis?

Metastasis significantly impacts the clinical management and prognosis of cancer patients. Once a cancer has metastasized, it is often more challenging to treat and may require systemic therapies such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Understanding the histological features and pathways of metastasis can aid in developing more effective treatments and diagnostic tools.

What Future Directions Exist in the Study of Metastasis?

Research in metastasis is ongoing, with a focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Advances in molecular biology and genomics have provided new insights into the genes and signaling pathways involved in metastatic progression. Additionally, the development of in vitro and in vivo models continues to facilitate the study of metastasis in a controlled environment.

Relevant Publications

P4HA2 promotes proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Issue Release: 2024

The survival prediction of advanced colorectal cancer received neoadjuvant therapy-a study of SEER database.

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Multifrequency Magnetic Resonance Elastography Detects Small Abdominal Lymph Node Metastasis by High Stiffness.

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TMVP1448, a novel peptide improves detection of primary tumors and metastases by specifically targeting VEGFR-3.

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[A Case of Systemic Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloid (ATTR) Amyloidosis Diagnosed in a Patient with Gross Hematuria].

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A Concordance Between Clinical and Pathological Tumor Staging of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Institutional Study.

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Droplet-based microfluidics for engineering shape-controlled hydrogels with stiffness gradient.

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Artificial intelligence-assisted metastasis and prognosis model for patients with nodular melanoma.

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A Case of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis After Hyperprogression in Human Papillomavirus-Positive (HPV+) Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

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Anti-pancreatic cancer activity of cassane diterpenoids isolated from the seeds of Caesalpinia sappan mediated by autophagy activation via ROS/AMPK/mTORC1 pathway.

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Hypoxia-induced TRPM7 Promotes Glycolytic Metabolism and Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

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Prognostic value of creatine kinase (CK)-MB to total-CK ratio in colorectal cancer patients after curative resection.

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Circulating tumor cells are a good predictor of tumor recurrence in clinical patients with gastric cancer.

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TNM stage in the Nordic Cancer Registries 2004-2016: Registration and availability.

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Risk Factors of Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia After Oxaliplatin-Containing Chemotherapy for Gastrointestinal Malignancies.

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Advancements in neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous Carcinoma: A narrative review.

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Circulating Immune Cells Predict Prognosis and Clinical Response to Chemotherapy in Cholangiocarcinoma.

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Accelerated 3D multi-echo spin-echo sequence with a subspace constrained reconstruction for whole mouse brain mapping.

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The potential advantages of F sodium fluoride positron emission tomography-computed tomography for clinical staging and management planning in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

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Identification and validation of a prognostic anoikis-related gene signature in papillary thyroid carcinoma by integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing.

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