Gangliosides, copper ions and angiogenic capacity of adult tissues

The report summarizes the work of our laboratory aimed at improving the understanding of the angiogenic response of adult tissues, an event that transforms a micro-embolus of neoplastic cells into a growing metastasis. Attention has been focused on tumor-induced angiogenesis. The following aspects of the subject are discussed: (a) relationship between size of vascular network and tumor growth rate or tumor cell population; (b) angiogenic capacity of tumors and role that prostaglandin E1 may have as an angiogenesis factor; (c) relationship between acquisition of angiogenic capacity and neoplastic transformation of a cell population; (d) modification of tissue composition at the onset of angiogenesis; (e) behaviour of copper ions and copper carriers in the course of the angiogenic response; (f) the influence of gangliosides on endothelial cell motility, survival and growth in vitro; (g) modulation of the angiogenic response by gangliosides (GM1, GT1b) in vivo.