Understanding Extravasation: A Key Step in Cancer Metastasis

Extravasate is a term used in medicine to describe the movement of fluid or cells out of a blood vessel and into the surrounding tissue. This can occur due to various reasons, such as injury, inflammation, or disease.

In the context of cancer, extravasation refers specifically to the spread of cancer cells out of the primary tumor and into the surrounding tissues. This can lead to the formation of metastases, which are new tumors that grow in other parts of the body.

Extravasation is a key step in the metastatic process, as it allows cancer cells to leave the primary tumor and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to establish new tumors in other parts of the body. Understanding the mechanisms of extravasation is important for developing effective treatments for cancer.