Cancer is characterized by the development of abnormal, or mutant, cells that may take root anywhere in the body: in the blood, bones, digestive tract, lungs, and sex organs. If their spread is not controlled early, the cancerous cells may _________, that is, establish colonies elsewhere in the body.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sentence states that if the spread of abnormal cells is not controlled early, they may establish colonies (meaning they have spread) elsewhere in the body. The term for this spread is metastasis, which is the best choice. A is incorrect because becoming benign means the opposite of spreading; B is incorrect because reaching an equilibrium state would mean the cancer is stable and not spreading; and C is incorrect because degeneration is a term used when cells break down or deteriorate, not when they spread.

Cancer Is Characterized by the Development of Abnormal, or Mutant