Final answer:
To increase their supply of nutrients, tumors undergo angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels. Drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors are used in cancer treatment to prevent the growth of new blood vessels, which starves the tumor of necessary nutrients and oxygen, potentially slowing or stopping its growth and spread.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to increase their supply of nutrients, tumors undergo angiogenesis, which is the correct answer, and it means the formation of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis is a crucial process that allows a tumor to grow beyond the limitations of passive nutrient diffusion by developing its own blood supply. This is vital for the tumor because it needs oxygen and nutrients to continue growing and proliferating.
The use of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors in cancer treatment is based on this concept. These drugs aim to block the formation of new blood vessels in tumors, which is essential for tumor growth and survival. By inhibiting angiogenesis, these drugs can starve the tumor of necessary nutrients and oxygen, ultimately slowing down or stopping its growth. This therapeutic strategy is significant because it directly targets the tumor's ability to sustain itself, grow, and potentially spread to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.
This strategy is based on the concept that without a blood supply, malignant tumors cannot continue to grow or spread. Therefore, angiogenesis inhibitors can be an effective method of cancer treatment when used alone or in combination with other treatments to target and kill cancer cells.