What is the process called when cancerous tumors spread to other parts of the body?

The process by which cancerous tumors spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis. This phenomenon occurs when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor, travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and establish secondary tumors in distant organs or tissues. Metastasis represents a critical aspect of cancer progression, often impacting prognosis as metastatic disease is typically more difficult to treat and can significantly alter the course of the disease.

Infiltration refers to the local invasion of cancer cells into adjacent tissues, but it does not encompass the spread to distant sites. Proliferation describes the rapid multiplication of cells, which is a characteristic of tumor growth but does not specifically refer to the spreading process. Differentiation refers to the process by which a cell develops from a less specialized state to a more specialized state, which is not related to the spreading of cancer cells throughout the body. Thus, metastasis is the specific term that accurately describes the spread of cancerous tumors.