The establishment of malignant growth at a site distant from the original tumour, requiring successful dissemination, survival and expansion. Circulating tumour cells alone do not establish that a metastasis has formed.
An assay introducing tumour biological cells at a selected point of dissemination, for example by vascular injection. Its interpretation must state which preceding barriers were bypassed.
A sequence of conditional transitions from a primary tumour to a distant growing lesion. A bypass assay tests only selected transitions, and failure at one stage need not identify the slowest step in every setting.
Persistence without substantial net expansion under specified conditions. Cellular quiescence and a balance between proliferation and death are different possible mechanisms.
A cancer biological cell detected in circulation. Detection measures one part of dissemination rather than total metastatic success.
A cancer biological cell found away from the primary site. Its presence does not prove that it will generate a clinically significant distant colony.
Establishment and sustained expansion at a distant site. A disseminated biological cell can survive or remain dormant without completing this stage.
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