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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Tissue Engineering of Tumor Stromal Microenvironment with Application to Cancer Cell Invasion
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Published on: March 18, 2014

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Tumor vasculature: a sally port for inhibiting cancer cell spreading

Chao-Nan Qian1, Francesco Pezzella2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, P. R. China. qianchn@sysucc.org.cn.

Cancer Communications (London, England)
|August 5, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Tumor blood vessel development is crucial for metastasis. Experts discussed how solid tumors hijack existing blood vessels, a process called vessel co-option, to grow and spread.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Angiogenesis Research
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • The link between tumor vascularization and metastasis is a key area of cancer research.
  • Inhibiting tumor blood vessel development is a strategy to suppress cancer spread.
  • Solid tumors utilize diverse mechanisms to establish their vasculature.

Framework:

  • The 4th International Meeting of Cancer and Blood Vessels convened experts to discuss tumor vascularization.
  • Focus was placed on vessel co-option as a critical mechanism for tumor growth and metastasis.
  • Discussions covered the underlying biological mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Implementation:

  • Experts explored how solid tumors co-opt existing or newly formed blood vessels in surrounding tissues.
  • The role of pericytes in supporting tumor vasculature was examined.
  • Potential novel therapeutic targets for anti-angiogenic strategies were identified.

Implications:

  • Understanding vessel co-option offers new avenues for anti-cancer therapies.
  • Targeting tumor vasculature can potentially inhibit metastasis and improve patient outcomes.
  • Further research into pericyte function and therapeutic targets is warranted.

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