What characterizes tumor cells during stage 3 of tumor cell transformations?

During stage 3 of tumor cell transformations, tumor cells acquire malignant phenotypic changes, which is a hallmark of their progression toward cancer. This stage is characterized by several significant alterations in the cells, including enhanced growth capacity, the ability to invade surrounding tissues, and the potential to metastasize to distant sites.

These malignant phenotypic changes can include alterations in cell morphology, increased proliferation rates, changes in cell adhesion properties, and variations in the expression of specific surface markers. As a result, these tumor cells become more aggressive, leading to an escalation in their invasive properties and resistance to normal regulatory mechanisms that ordinarily control cell growth and division.

In contrast, tumor cells do not become less invasive at this stage, nor do they lose the ability to grow independently. In fact, they are more likely to thrive in conditions that would not support normal cells. Additionally, tumor cells often develop various mechanisms to evade recognition by the immune system, which allows them to persist and proliferate, rather than being easily recognized by immune defenses. These characteristics underscore the significance of stage 3 in the development of cancer, as the tumor cells exhibit the malignancy that leads to poorer prognoses and more aggressive disease behavior.