tumorinfiltrate
Tumorinfiltrate, commonly referred to as tumor infiltrate, denotes the invasion of malignant cells into surrounding normal tissue. It reflects the local invasive spread of a tumor beyond its capsule or original mass and is assessed in histopathology to gauge the extent of invasion.
Histologic patterns include cohesive invasion forming strands or nests, or single-cell infiltration; desmoplastic stroma; invasion of
Clinical significance: in surgical pathology, infiltration affects margins and staging (for example, depth of invasion and
Tumor infiltrates include not only malignant cells but also immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, known
Pathophysiology: invasion is mediated by proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases and by cellular processes like epithelial-mesenchymal
See also: tumor microenvironment; tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; cancer invasion and metastasis.