Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
risk of metastasis

risk of metastasis

5.8
The chance that cancer cells spread from their original place to other parts of the body
  • noun
  • /rɪsk əv ˌmɛtəˈstæsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : riesgo de metástasis
  • Research indicates that certain genetic markers can increase the risk of metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Examples

  • Patients with breast cancer often discuss the risk of metastasis to the bones or lungs during treatment.

  • Lee et al. also noted that the risk of metastasis from skin cancer to the parotid decreases over time but remains significant until about 19 months.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The doctor explained that the risk of metastasis increases if the tumor is not treated early.

Antonyms

remission
  • Specialized
41 6.4

A time when disease symptoms become less or go away

Surface Forms

risk of metastasis singular
risks of metastasis plural

Morphology

risk + of + metastasis

The phrase is fully compositional: 'risk' (probability) + 'of' (linking preposition) + 'metastasis' (spread of cancer) yields the meaning 'probability that cancer will spread'. Although 'metastasis' is a technical medical term that many B1 learners may not know, if they do know all constituent words the overall meaning is directly derivable and mirrors common cross‑linguistic constructions (risk of X).

Etymology

Risk of metastasis paints a simple image: tiny cancer cells travelling like seeds blown to new places, and that moving is what doctors call metastasis. So risk means the 'chance' those cells will 'spread', which is why the phrase means the chance that the cancer will move to other parts of the body.