Disruption of Homeostasis in Cancer

Tumor growth and metastasis can be considered as a process that causes a fundamental disruption of homeostasis at all three levels (Table 28.1). The transformation of a normal cell into a tumor cell is associated with changes in cellular homeostasis. Tumor cell proliferation, in turn, disrupts tissue homeostasis. Metastasis formation and tumor anorexia and cachexia, in turn, affect homeostasis at the systemic level.