The process of tumor invasiveness involves several complex steps. Initially, cancer cells acquire mutations that enable them to detach from the primary tumor mass. They then undergo changes that allow them to degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM), a network of proteins and other molecules that provides structural support to tissues. Enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a key role in breaking down the ECM, facilitating the invasion of cancer cells into adjacent tissues.
