Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
09:03
Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells
Published on: November 23, 2014
Angiogenesis and cancer
1Department of Oncology, Division of Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Surgical Technology International
|December 8, 2010
Summary
Tumor growth relies on new blood vessel formation, known as tumor angiogenesis. Understanding this process is key to developing new cancer therapies and using tumor vasculature as a prognostic indicator.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Tumor development and progression depend on host vasculature.
- Tumor angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels within a tumor.
- This process involves complex interactions between tumor cells, host vasculature, immune cells, and connective tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and update the basic aspects of tumor angiogenesis.
- To discuss the role of quantitative analysis of tumor vasculature as a prognostic indicator in human cancers.
- To explore the potential of targeting tumor neoangiogenesis for novel anticancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on tumor angiogenesis.
- Analysis of the balance between angiogenic growth factors and inhibitors.
- Evaluation of quantitative analysis of tumor vasculature.
Main Results:
- Tumor angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and progression.
- An imbalance of angiogenic factors and inhibitors drives tumor neovascularization.
- Quantitative analysis of tumor vasculature can serve as an independent prognostic indicator.
Conclusions:
- Tumor angiogenesis is a critical factor in cancer progression.
- Further research is needed to determine if targeting tumor neoangiogenesis can be an effective anticancer strategy.
- The quantitative analysis of tumor vasculature holds promise as a prognostic tool in oncology.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Mechanism of Angiogenesis
Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
01:35Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However, invadopodia can...
02:18Cancer
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.