What is cancer protein?

As a field expert in oncology, I can provide you with a detailed explanation of what a cancer protein is. A cancer protein is a type of protein that is either produced by cancer cells or is associated with the development and progression of cancer. These proteins can serve various functions within the cancerous cells, such as promoting cell division, inhibiting cell death, enabling the cells to evade the immune system, or facilitating the spread of cancer cells throughout the body, a process known as metastasis. The level of tumor protein can be an indicator of how aggressive a cancer might be and the likelihood of it spreading. For instance, certain proteins may be present in higher concentrations in more aggressive forms of cancer. When cancer cells break away from the primary tumor, they can travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body and form new tumors. This process of spreading to other parts of the body is called metastasis. Metastatic cancer is often more difficult to treat and can be life-threatening. Healthcare practitioners aim to detect and treat cancer at an early stage to prevent metastasis. Biomarkers, which can include specific cancer proteins, are used to monitor the progression of the disease and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.

Level of tumor protein indicates chances cancer will spread. ... Cancer cells can break away from a primary tumor and spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body, where they form new tumors. Metastatic cancer is often fatal, and health care practitioners seek to contain cancer early, before it can metastasize.