Oxidative stress in tumor microenvironment--Its role in angiogenesis

The tumor angiogenesis process is believed to be dependent on an "angiogenic switch" formed by a cascade of biologic events as a consequence of the "cross-talk" between tumor cells and several components of local microenvironment including endothelial cells, macrophages, mast cells and stromal components. Oxidative stress represents an important stimulus that widely contributes to this angiogenic switch, which is particularly relevant in lungs, where oxidative stress is originated from different sources including the incomplete reduction of oxygen during respiration, exposure to hypoxia/reoxygenation, stimulated resident or chemoattracted immune cells to lung tissues, as well as by a variety of chemicals compounds. In the present review we highlight the role of oxidative stress in tumor angiogenesis as a key signal linked to other relevant actors in this complex process.