Most solid tumours are treated with surgery before they spread to other organs. Dr. Auer, and others, have shown that surgery itself can increase the spread of cancer to distant sites (metastasis). Surgery triggers the formation of blood clots through the release of Tissue Factor. This is a protective mechanism designed to stop bleeding after tissue damage, such as surgery. Tissue Factor has also been shown to increase the spread of cancer to distant sites and agents that block its activity may prevent this from occuring. In this proposal Dr. Auer will find out if Tissue Factor is responsible for the increase in cancer spread that also occurs after surgery. Dr. Auer and her team will also be studying why this occurs and how to prevent it.