Final answer:
Localized cancer describes a state where cell growth is confined to the tissue of origin, without spread to other areas. This is in contrast to regional cancer, which has begun to spread to adjacent tissues or lymph nodes. Localized cancer typically indicates a better prognosis and a greater chance of successful treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When cell growth is still localized only in the tissue of origin, the term used is localized cancer. This means that the cancer has not spread beyond the tissue where it started, and there is no indication that it has reached other parts of the body.
Localized cancer is often contrasted with regional cancer, which has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues. In the context of cell culture, normal cells demonstrate contact inhibition, which allows them to stop dividing when they form a monolayer.
However, cancer cells lack this regulatory mechanism and continue to grow and divide, leading to a pile-up of cells. The inability of cancer cells to adhere firmly to an extracellular matrix due to a deficiency in integrins contributes to their potential to metastasize.
Thus, localized cancer represents a state where the absence of metastasis suggests potential for effective treatment and containment within the original tissue.