Final answer:
Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells spread from a primary tumor to other parts of the body. Different types of cancer tend to metastasize to specific organs such as the brain, lungs, bones, and liver. This is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells from a primary tumor travel through the bloodstream and form new cancers at distant sites in the body. Different types of cancers tend to metastasize to particular organs, with the most common sites being the brain, lungs, bones, and liver. Metastasis is a key characteristic of cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis.
For example, lung cancer cells can metastasize and grow in the brain, bones, and adrenal gland. Pancreas cancer cells can metastasize to the liver and lungs. Breast cancer cells can metastasize to the bone, brain, and liver. Colon and ovarian cancer cells can metastasize to the liver.
The ability of cancer cells to metastasize and form new tumors in different locations is what makes cancer a life-threatening and difficult-to-treat disease.