How is cancer spread through the body?

Cancer spreads through the body primarily through a process known as metastasis. This involves the movement of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body, where they can form secondary tumors. The metastatic process typically includes several steps: invasion of nearby tissues, entry into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, survival in the circulatory system, and establishment of growth at a new site.

Understanding metastasis is crucial in pathophysiology, as it is one of the defining characteristics of malignant tumors and significantly impacts the staging, prognosis, and treatment options for cancer. Other processes listed in the options, such as angiogenesis, apoptosis, and cell division, play important roles in tumor growth and survival, but they do not specifically refer to the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. For instance, angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels that supply nutrients to tumors, while apoptosis refers to programmed cell death, and cell division pertains to how cancer cells proliferate locally rather than spread throughout the body.