Invasive
Also known as: infiltrating, malignant
Cancer that has grown beyond its starting layer into surrounding tissue.
Definition
An invasive cancer is one that has broken through the layer of tissue in which it started and grown into surrounding structures. Once a cancer is invasive it can potentially reach blood vessels and lymphatic channels, which is the first step on the road to metastasis.
Most cancers diagnosed clinically are already invasive (in contrast to in-situ disease, which is confined to its original layer). The depth of invasion, involvement of lymph nodes and any distant spread together determine the stage and guide treatment.
See also
- In Situ — Early-stage cancer that has not yet broken through into surrounding tissue.
- Metastasis — Cancer that has spread from where it started to another part of the body.
- Staging — The process of finding out how large a cancer is and whether it has spread.
- Margin — The rim of normal-looking tissue around a tumour after it is surgically removed.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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