MECHANISMS OF TUMOR INVASION AND METASTASIS

Metastasis is the cascade of events involved in the transition of a ma lignancy from a localized tumor to the establishment of a distant foci . In this review we define the known stages and the factors involved. The multiplicity of steps involved allows many opportunities for thera peutic intervention. Current research has focused on interruption of a step or a series of steps to limit the spread of cancer. With emphasi s on the urologic malignancies, we outline the research thus far accom plished in the field of metastasis.