What term describes the spread of cancer cells to distant organs?

The term that describes the spread of cancer cells to distant organs is metastasis. This process involves cancer cells detaching from the original tumor, traveling through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and establishing new growths in other parts of the body. Metastasis is a critical aspect of cancer progression and significantly influences the prognosis and treatment strategies for patients.

Invasion refers to the process by which cancer cells infiltrate surrounding tissues adjacent to the original tumor, but it does not encompass the spread to distant organs. Proliferation describes the rapid increase in the number of cells, often seen in tumors, but again, it does not inherently involve movement to other locations in the body. Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of cells, which can be precursors to cancer, but it also does not relate to the concept of spreading to distant sites. Thus, metastasis is the most accurate term for this specific process in cancer biology.