Biology · Human Health and Diseases · NEET
| Location | Confined to original location | Invades and spreads to distant sites |
| Growth | Slow, limited | Very rapid, uncontrolled proliferation |
| Spread (metastasis) | Absent | Present, cells travel via blood |
| Effect on body | Little damage | Damages normal tissue, starves normal cells |
| Cell name | Not neoplastic (stays put) | Neoplastic / tumour cells |
A benign tumour normally remains confined to its original location, does not spread to other parts of the body, and causes little damage. A malignant tumour is a mass of proliferating cells that grow very rapidly, invade and damage surrounding normal tissues, and can spread to distant sites. So the key word for benign is 'confined' and for malignant is 'spread'.
Metastasis is when cells slough off (break away) from a malignant tumour, travel through the blood to distant sites, get lodged there, and start a new tumour in that new place. NCERT calls it 'the most feared property of malignant tumours' because it means the cancer is no longer in one spot and can appear anywhere in the body, making it very hard to treat.
Neoplastic cells (tumour cells) are the cells that make up a MALIGNANT tumour. NCERT says the malignant tumours are 'a mass of proliferating cells called neoplastic or tumor cells.' So if a NEET option describes neoplastic characteristics, it means rapid growth, invasion, and damage to surrounding tissue, not a tumour confined to one location.
As malignant (neoplastic) cells actively divide and grow, they starve the normal cells by competing for vital nutrients. On top of that, they invade and damage the surrounding normal tissues directly. This is why a malignant tumour causes far more harm than a benign one.
No. Only malignant tumours show metastasis, where cells reach distant sites through the blood and start new tumours. A benign tumour stays confined to its original location and does not spread, so it does not travel through the blood to other organs.
Neoplastic characteristics of cells refer to: A. A mass of proliferating cell; B. Rapid growth of cells; C. Invasion and damage to the surrounding tissue; D. Those confined to original location. Choose the correct answer from the options given below
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Only the malignant tumour shows metastasis. Cells break off, travel through the blood, and start new tumours at distant sites. Benign tumours do not do this.
A benign tumour causes little damage because it stays confined to its original location and does not spread. It is far less dangerous than a malignant tumour.
Cancer cells lose contact inhibition, so contact with other cells no longer stops their growth. They keep dividing uncontrollably, forming rapidly growing masses of neoplastic cells.
Neoplastic means tumour-forming. NCERT uses 'neoplastic or tumor cells' for the proliferating cells of a malignant tumour that grow fast and invade nearby tissue.
Yes. They invade and damage surrounding normal tissue and also starve normal cells by competing for vital nutrients, so healthy cells cannot get enough food.
