Benign tumours are made up of cells that are quite similar to normal cells. They only cause a problem if they: Show
Malignant tumours are made up of cancer cells. They:
How cancers get biggerTo start with, cancer cells stay inside the body tissue from which they have developed. For example, the lining of the bladder or the breast ducts. Doctors call this superficial cancer growth orcarcinoma in situ (CIS). The cancer cells grow and divide to create more cells and will eventually form a tumour. A tumour may contain millions of cancer cells. All body tissues have a layer (a membrane) that keeps the cells of that tissue inside. This is the basement membrane. Cancer cells can break through this membrane. The cancer is called invasive cancer if it breaks through this membrane. As the tumour gets bigger, its centre gets further and further away from the blood vessels in the area where it is growing. So the centre of the tumour gets less and less oxygen and nutrients. Like healthy cells, cancer cells can't live without oxygen and nutrients. So they send out signals called angiogenic factors. These encourage new blood vessels to grow into the tumour. This is called angiogenesis. Without a blood supply, a tumour can't grow much bigger than a pin head. Once a cancer can stimulate blood vessel growth, it can grow bigger. It stimulates hundreds of new small blood vessels (capillaries):
This 1 minute video explains how cancer gets a blood supply. You can view a transcript of the video. There is a lot of research looking at angiogenesis. We know from research so far that the amount of angiogenic factors is very high at the outer edges of a cancer. Some cancer drugs can stop cancers from growing their own blood vessels. These drugs are called anti angiogenic drugs. They can't get rid of a cancer but might be able to shrink it or stop it growing. More of these drugs are being developed and tested all the time. We have information about drugs that block blood vessel growth. You can also find out about trials that are looking at anti angiogenic drugs on our clinical trials database. How cancer spreads into surrounding tissuesAs a tumour gets bigger, it takes up more space in the body. The cancer can:
This is called local invasion. Researchers don't fully understand how cancer grows into the surrounding tissues A cancer might grow out in a random direction from where it started. However, researchers know that tumours can spread into some tissues more easily than others. For example, large blood vessels that have strong walls and dense tissues such as cartilage are hard for tumours to grow into. So, tumours tend to grow along the 'path of least resistance'. This means that they probably take the easiest route. We know from research that there are 3 different ways that tumours may grow into surrounding tissues. A tumour probably uses all 3 of these ways of spreading. The way it uses most depends on:
The 3 ways that tumours may grow into surrounding tissues are:
Pressure from the growing tumourAs the tumour grows and takes up more space, it begins to press on the normal body tissue nearby. The tumour growth will force itself through the normal tissue, as in the diagram below. The finger like appearance of the growth happens because it is easier for the growing cancer to force its way through some paths than others. For example, cancers may grow between sheets of muscle tissue rather than straight through the muscle. As the cancer grows, it squeezes and blocks small blood vessels in the area. Low blood and oxygen levels cause some of the normal tissue to die off. This makes it easier for the cancer to continue to push its way through. Using enzymesSome normal cells produce chemicals called enzymes. These break down cells and tissues. The cells use the enzymes to:
This is all part of the natural healing process. Many cancers contain:
They are part of the body's immune response to the cancer. Researchers are not yet sure where the enzymes come from. But they think the enzymes make it easier for the cancer to spread through the healthy tissue. As the cancer pushes through and breaks down normal tissues it might cause bleeding due to damage to nearby blood vessels. Cancer cells moving through the tissueOne of the ways that cancer cells are different to normal cells is that it is easier for cancer cells to move about. So one of the ways that cancers spread into nearby tissues is by the cells directly moving. Scientists have discovered a substance made by cancer cells which stimulates them to move. They don't know for sure yet, but it seems that this substance might be involved in the local spread of cancers. This research is interesting because if a substance can help cancer cells move, then researchers can look for ways to stop the substance working. They may also be able to find ways to stop the cancer cells making the substance in the first place. Researchers are also trying to understand how cancer cells change shape as they move and spread to other parts of the body. How do you know if a mass is cancerous or benign?A benign tumor has distinct, smooth, regular borders. A malignant tumor has irregular borders and grows faster than a benign tumor. A malignant tumor can also spread to other parts of your body. A benign tumor can become quite large, but it will not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of your body.
Can a small tumor be cancerous?Tumours (lumps) can be benign or cancerous (malignant). Benign means it is not cancer. Benign tumours: usually grow quite slowly.
Can you tell if a mass is cancerous without a biopsy?Imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRIs, are helpful in detecting masses or irregular tissue, but they alone can't tell the difference between cancerous cells and cells that aren't cancerous. For most cancers, the only way to make a diagnosis is to perform a biopsy to collect cells for closer examination.
When is a mass considered cancerous?Malignant tumors have cells that grow uncontrollably and spread locally and/or to distant sites. Malignant tumors are cancerous (ie, they invade other sites). They spread to distant sites via the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. This spread is called metastasis.
|