metastasis

[ muh-tas-tuh-sis ]

noun

, plural me·tas·ta·ses [m, uh, -, tas, -t, uh, -seez].

1. Pathology.
   1. the transference of disease-producing organisms or of malignant or cancerous cells to other parts of the body by way of the blood or lymphatic vessels or membranous surfaces.
   2. the condition produced by this.
2. transformation ( def 3 ).
3. Rhetoric. a rapid transition, as from one subject to another.
4. Physics. a change in position or orbit of an elementary particle.

metastasis

/ mɪˈtæstəsɪs; ˌmɛtəˈstætɪk /

noun

1. pathol the spreading of a disease, esp cancer cells, from one part of the body to another
2. a transformation or change, as in rhetoric, from one point to another
3. a rare word for metabolism

metastasis

/ mə-tăs′tə-sĭs /

1. A cancerous tumor formed by transmission of malignant cells from a primary cancer located elsewhere in the body.

Derived Forms

• ˌmetaˈstatically, adverb
• metastatic, adjective

Other Words From

• met·a·stat·ic [met-, uh, -, stat, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metastasis¹

First recorded in 1580–90, metastasis is from the Greek word metástasis “a changing”; meta-, stasis

Word History and Origins

Origin of metastasis¹

C16: via Latin from Greek: transition

Example Sentences

Zarif plans to collaborate with colleagues at Johns Hopkins to launch a clinical trial of JHU083 in patients with treatment-resistant prostate or bladder cancer to see if it shrinks tumors and prevents metastasis.

From Science Daily

Administering the nanoparticles systemically improved survival rates and inhibited metastasis across various cancer types.

From Science Daily

"This further indicates that the ability of the cells to pull on each other and hold themselves clustered together becomes weaker as the tumor grows, potentially increasing metastasis risk."

From Science Daily

"And cell movement underlies embryonic development, drives wound healing and contributes to tumor metastasis," she explained.

From Science Daily

"We have identified the novel protein FOXF1 that stabilizes blood vessels inside the lung tumors, decreases intertumoral hypoxia and prevents lung cancer metastases," explained Dr. Kalin, the senior author on this study.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• changeover
• conversion
• development
• evolution
• growth
• passage
• progress
• progression
• shift
• transformation
• upheaval