What is a significant characteristic of tumors greater than 1 cm in size?

Tumors greater than 1 cm in size often pose a significant challenge to the immune system. Larger tumors tend to exhibit more metabolic activity and can produce immunosuppressive factors that inhibit the body’s natural immune response. This immunosuppression can prevent effective recognition and elimination of the tumor cells by the immune system, making the larger tumors more difficult for the body to combat.

In contrast, smaller tumors may evoke a more robust immune response since they are less likely to secrete factors that suppress immune activity. Therefore, as tumors grow larger, they not only become more complex biologically but also develop mechanisms to evade or overwhelm the immune system, leading to increased challenges in treatment and control.

Other options like being easily treated or usually benign do not align with the understanding that larger tumors typically have more aggressive characteristics and may require more complex interventions. Additionally, larger tumors often demand increased blood supply to support their growth, contradicting the idea that they require less blood supply.