Which term refers to the spread of cancer cells throughout the body?

• A. Metastasis
• B. Proliferation
• C. Degeneration
• D. Infiltration

Answer: (A)

The term that refers to the spread of cancer cells throughout the body is metastasis. This process involves cancer cells breaking away from the original, or primary, tumor and traveling through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to form new tumors in other organs or tissues. Metastasis is a critical concern in oncology because it often signifies a more advanced stage of cancer, making it more challenging to treat and manage.

Proliferation refers to the rapid increase in the number of cells, which can occur in both healthy tissue and tumors but does not imply movement throughout the body. Degeneration refers to a decline in the function or structure of tissues or organs, typically associated with aging or disease processes. Infiltration, while it can suggest the invasion of cancer cells into surrounding tissues, does not encompass the broader concept of spreading to distant parts of the body, as seen in metastasis.