Research draft

metastasis

vr.tr.metastasis · PHY.LIV

Let an agent explain metastasis and its mechanisms in general terms, route symptoms and concerns to oncology care, describe detection and treatment approaches with attribution, and support patients and carers without individual medical advice.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

The spread of cancer cells from a primary tumour to distant organs or tissues through blood, lymph or body cavities, forming secondary tumours such as spinal, liver, lung or brain metastases, sometimes presenting as cancer of unknown primary origin; metastasis is the main cause of cancer mortality and is studied in oncology for its mechanisms, detection and treatment.

What it is for: Understanding cancer spread.

It can be explain how metastasis occurs; route concerns to care; describe detection and treatment approaches; support patients and carers.

Distinguishing features

Distant spread

Multi-step process

Prognostic significance

Detectable by imaging and pathology

What it looks like

Not visible externally; secondary tumours seen on imaging and pathology.

How it is recognised

Cancer cells at a distant site

Secondary to a primary tumour

Local invasion is spread into adjacent tissue only

Related models

is a kind of - category

neoplasm

is a kind of - category

secondary neoplasm

is related to - evasion of cell death

programmed cell death

is related to - cell migration through vessels

diapedesis

In practice

Families and kinds

bone and spinal metastases

liver and lung metastases

brain metastases

lymph node metastases

cancer of unknown primary

Standards and regulation

Oncology clinical guidelines

Cancer staging systems such as TNM

Medicines regulation for cancer therapies

Failure modes and hazards

Agents diagnosing or advising on treatment

Delayed presentation of symptoms

Misinformation about cures

Also called

cancer of unknown primary origincarcinoma of unknown primaryspinal metastasisSister Mary Joseph nodulespine metastasistumor metastasislymphatic metastasissecondary malignant neoplasm to the thymusmetastatic tumor to the epididymismetastatic neoplasm to the bladdersecondary malignant neoplasm of tracheametastatic tumor to the testismetastasis to adrenalsliver metastasissecondary malignant neoplasm of brain and spinal cordmetastasis to pleurametastatic malignant tumor to the anusmetastasis to the uretermetastasis to the peritoneummetastasis to vaginametastatic neoplasm to the placentametastasis to the kidneymetastasis to the urethrametastasis to eyeovarian metastasisaxillary metastasismetastasis to the orbitlymph node metastasismicrometastasismetastatic malignant neoplasm to the thyroidneoplasm seedingesophageal metastasismetastatic tumor to the colonmetastatic tumor to the brain stemmetastatic tumor to the choroidmetastasis to the rectumvulvar metastasismetastatic tumor to the larynxmetastasis to the neckmetastasis to the parathyroid gland

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Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Also registered as vr.tr.metastasis

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Care Concerns and routing.

Professional care.

Symptoms

Concerning symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms.

Do these symptoms in a person with a cancer history warrant prompt review by their oncology team, according to guidance? boundary
Is there an emergency such as spinal cord compression signs now? boundary

Questions

Questions for the team.

Questions

Questions.

Which questions can patients ask their care team about metastatic disease and options? action
Is the user asking for a diagnosis or treatment decision, which needs a clinician? boundary

Understand How metastasis works.

Science.

Mechanism

Steps of metastasis.

Mechanism

Mechanism.

How do cancer cells invade, travel and colonise distant sites, according to research? provenance
Why do certain cancers spread to certain organs? provenance

Unknown

Cancer of unknown primary.

Unknown

Unknown primary.

What is cancer of unknown primary origin, and how is it investigated? provenance
Which entry fits a specific cancer type? action

Manage Detection and treatment.

Attribution.

Detect

Detection and staging.

Detect

Detection.

How are metastases detected and staged, in general terms, according to guidelines? provenance
What does staging mean for treatment planning? definition

Treat

Treatment approaches.

Treat

Treatment.

Which treatment approaches exist for metastatic disease, in general terms, and how are goals such as control and quality of life set? provenance
Which support and palliative care services exist? provenance

Learn Research and support.

Context.

Research

Research directions.

Research

Research.

What are current research directions in preventing and treating metastasis? provenance
How can patients access clinical trials? provenance

Support

Support for patients and carers.

Support

Support.

Which organisations support people living with metastatic cancer and their carers? provenance
Which misinformation should be avoided? provenance

What the second pass must settle

Should each metastatic site be a separate entry?
How should guidelines be linked?
How should patient organisations be localised?

Draft as JSON