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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells

Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells

Published on: November 23, 2014

Semaphorins and tumor angiogenesis.

Guido Serini¹, Federica Maione, Enrico Giraudo

¹Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, 10060 Torino, Candiolo, Italy. guido.serini@ircc.it

|March 7, 2009

Summary

Semaphorins are proteins involved in cell signaling. This review explores their dual role in cancer, focusing on how imbalances in semaphorin signaling contribute to abnormal tumor blood vessel formation.

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Oncology

Background:

Semaphorins are evolutionarily conserved proteins mediating diverse biological processes, including nervous system development and immune functions.
They interact with plexin receptors, and sometimes co-receptors like neuropilins, to exert attractive or repulsive signals.
Semaphorins exhibit context-dependent roles in cancer, acting as both tumor suppressors and promoters.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the multifaceted role of semaphorins in tumor angiogenesis.
To propose a mechanism involving autocrine loops and class 3 semaphorins in aberrant tumor vasculature.

Main Methods:

Literature review of semaphorin functions in biological systems and cancer.
Analysis of semaphorin interactions with receptors and co-receptors.

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Focus on semaphorins' impact on tumor angiogenesis and vasculature.

Main Results:

Semaphorins regulate crucial developmental and physiological processes.
Their signaling pathways are complex, involving plexins, neuropilins, and tyrosine kinase receptors.
An imbalance in autocrine loops of angiogenic inducers and class 3 semaphorins is implicated in abnormal tumor vasculature.

Conclusions:

Semaphorins play significant roles in tumor angiogenesis.
Dysregulation of semaphorin signaling, particularly class 3 semaphorins, contributes to aberrant tumor vasculature.
Understanding these pathways offers potential therapeutic targets in oncology.