What is the definition or description of: invasive carcinoma?

Malignant tumor: Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Malignant tumors(carcinomas) can expand to nearby tissues and impair their function, this is invasive cancer.

Extent: Here the distinction is between in-situ cancer and invasive cancer. In-situ cancer is confined to the very superficial layers of the tissue, and invasive cancer has penetrated that layer. This is important because invasive cancer has a higher capacity to move into the lymph nodes and therefore affects prognosis and treatment options.

Tissue: Has organized surfaces with cells resting on a basement membrane. Invasive cancers disrupt that membrane and gain access to blood vessels, subcutaneous tissues, and lymphatics.