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Tumor angiogenesis—characteristics of tumor endothelial cells

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Abstract

Tumor blood vessels provide nutrition and oxygen to the tumor, resulting in tumor progression. They also act as gatekeepers, inducing tumor metastasis. Thus, targeting tumor blood vessels is an important strategy in cancer therapy. Tumor endothelial cells (TECs), which line the inner layer of blood vessels of the tumor stromal tissue, are the main targets of anti-angiogenic therapy. Because new tumor blood vessels generally sprout from pre-existing vasculature, they have been considered to be the same as normal blood vessels. However, tumor blood vessels demonstrate a markedly abnormal phenotype that includes several important morphological changes. The degree of angiogenesis is determined by the balance between the angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors released by the tumor and host cells. Recent studies have revealed that TECs also exhibit altered characteristics which depend on the tumor microenvironment. Here, we review recent studies on TEC abnormalities and heterogeneity with respect to tumor progression and consider their therapeutic implications.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the members of the Department of Vascular Biology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, and Dr. Shindoh for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vascular Biology, Frontier Research Unit, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, N15 W7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0815, Japan

    Kyoko Hida, Nako Maishi & Chisaho Torii

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Chisaho Torii

  3. Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Yasuhiro Hida

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  1. Kyoko Hida
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  2. Nako Maishi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kyoko Hida.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Japan (to K. Hida, Y. Hida, and N. Maishi) and by grants from the Suhara Foundation and Naito Foundation (to K. Hida).

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Hida, K., Maishi, N., Torii, C. et al. Tumor angiogenesis—characteristics of tumor endothelial cells. Int J Clin Oncol 21, 206–212 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-016-0957-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-016-0957-1

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