【英语时差8,16】癌细胞扩散（上）

A major reason why many cancers are so dangerous is that they metastasize. This means that instead of staying in one place, the cancer cells migrate from their original site to other parts of the body. It’s no wonder scientists are busy studying the mechanism¹ that enables cells to move around, in hope of finding a way to control this migration². Whether it’s an immune cell going off to battle infection, or a cancer cell making its way to a new area of the body, the underlying³ mechanism for its movement is the same. All non-blood cells are surrounded by a fibrous material known as the extracellular matrix.Anyway cells on the go use a point-to-point adhesion system, which functions like tiny hooks, to grab the materials that make up the extracellular matrix.

1 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

2 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

3 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。