Final answer:
The term for a malignant new growth of epithelial cells is carcinoma, which is a malignant neoplasm capable of invading other tissues and potentially metastasizing to other parts of the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that means a malignant new growth of epithelial cells is carcinoma. A malignant tumor, or cancer, refers to uncontrolled cell growth with the capability to invade other tissues and potentially spread to other parts of the body via lymph or blood, a process known as metastasis. The process of confirming a diagnosis of cancer typically involves a biopsy, where doctors examine a tissue sample to determine the nature of the tumor.
Cancers are often named by the tissue of origin. For instance, carcinoma typically originates from epithelial cells which are found in organs such as the breast, prostate, lung, and colon. Invasive tumors like carcinomas contrast with benign tumors, which do not invade other tissues or form metastases.