Question

Read the following statements (I - III) and select the correct option stating True (T) and False (F).

I.Tumors are of two types - benign and malignant.
II.Metastasis is a property of benign tumors.
III.Benign cancer cells do not invade the nearby tissues.

• A. Statements (I) and (II) are true, but statement (III) is false
  
• B. Statements (I) and (II) are false, but statement (III) is true
  
• C. Statements (I) and (III) are true, but statement (II) is false
  
• D. All statements (I, II and III) are true
  

Answer 1

The correct option is C Statements (I) and (III) are true, but statement (II) is false


Cancer is a disease in which the affected body cells grow uncontrollably and destroy the surrounding tissues in the body.

Contact inhibition is a mechanism keeping a check on uncontrolled growth of cells. Contact inhibition enables noncancerous cells to cease proliferation and growth when they contact each other. But cancer cells divide in an uncontrolled manner and as a result contact inhibition fails.
Figure : Tumor

Cancerous cells continue to divide and form a mass of cells called tumors. A tumor is classified into following types based on its ability to undergo metastasis (spreading):

• Benign Tumor - These tumors are localized at a particular location in the body and do not spread to the other parts of the body. Such tumors are generally harmless.
• Malignant Tumor - These tumours are cancerous meaning that it will grow quickly and spread to other normal tissues of the body. So statement I is true.

The spread of cancer cells begins from the site of origin to the other areas of the body via bloodstream and lymph and forms a new tumor where they get stuck. This is referred to as metastasis.

Usually, cancer cells metastasize when they get into the bloodstream or the lymph nodes and form secondary tumours across various sites in the body.


The metastatic cells grow very quickly, form an abnormal lump or growth of cells and damage the normal tissues surrounding them. When the cells in a tumour are localised, it is benign. When the cells are abnormal and can grow uncontrollably, they are cancerous cells, and the tumour is malignant.

In simple words, the benign tumour does not create cancer while a malignant tumour creates deadly cancer. Benign tumor does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body the way cancer can. But benign tumors turn serious if they invade vital structures such as blood vessels or nerves. Hence statement II is false and statement III is true.