Endothelial cells and cancer cells: metabolic partners in crime?

Endothelial cells line the blood vessel lumen and are critical for blood flow homeostasis. Excessive and deregulated vessel overgrowth is a hallmark of pathological (tumor) angiogenesis. The purpose of this review is to describe the metabolic features of endothelial cells, in comparison with those of the cancer cells, and to discuss novel antiangiogenesis approaches based on targeting endothelial cell metabolism.

To form new blood vessels, endothelial cells switch from quiescence to a highly active state, characterized by migration and proliferation of endothelial cells. To date, growth factors, cytokines, and other molecules have been demonstrated to regulate vessel sprouting. However, recent evidence indicates that endothelial cell metabolism also importantly regulates angiogenesis. Whereas cancer cell metabolism has been studied extensively, endothelial cell metabolism is still in its infancy.

We will discuss metabolic pathways that regulate vessel sprouting, and highlight the commonalities with cancer cells for as much as studied. We will also consider new opportunities for the development of alternative antiangiogenic therapies by targeting endothelial cell metabolism.