1. Cellular Characteristics of Cancer Cells that Contribute to Metastasis

2. Metastasis: the spreading of cancer from one area of the body to another
Cancer cells initially group together to form a primary tumor
Cells may begin to break off from this tumor and travel to other parts of the body

4. These cancer cells are capable of establishing new tumors in locations remote from the site of the original disease
Metastasis is a very complicated process that still has yet to be completely understood
How do cancer cells metastasize?

5. 1. Loss of contact inhibition:
Most cells are “polite” and stop mitosing when they touch one other
Cancer cells do not
Cancer cells will be even more aggressive if they are near normal cells (faster when in a Petri dish)

7. 2. Lack of cellular adhesion
All normal cells stick together by one of two ways:
Anchor to each other with a protein thread called fibronectin
Cancer cells do not produce this

8. Normal cells stick together through the secretion of a starch called mucopolysaccharide
Cellular glue
Cancer cells do not express this

10. 3. Membrane dissolving enzymes:
Cancer produces enzymes that dissolve cell membranes and can get into tissue and vessels
This is how it spreads—squeezes through vessels into the lumen

11. 4. Tumor Angiogenesis Factor (TAF):
Tumor needs support in order to grow (vascular system)

13. Metastatic Melanoma on the Heart