What is the term for tumors forming new blood vessels?

The term for tumors forming new blood vessels is angiogenesis. This process is crucial for tumor growth and development because tumors require an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen to expand. As a tumor grows, it can reach a size where diffusion alone cannot supply the necessary resources, leading to the stimulation of angiogenesis. Tumor cells release signals that promote the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones, enhancing their blood supply and allowing the tumor to increase in size and metastasize.

In contrast, apoptosis refers to programmed cell death, which is a normal part of tissue growth and homeostasis, not directly related to the formation of blood vessels. Invasion describes the local spread of cancer cells into surrounding tissues, whereas metastasis refers to the process by which cancer cells spread from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body. While all these processes are related to cancer progression, angiogenesis specifically pertains to the development of new blood vessels essential for tumor sustenance.