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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Establishment of a Co-culture System of Patient-Derived Colorectal Tumor Organoids and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs)
Published on: June 27, 2025
Endoglin Targeting in Colorectal Tumor Microenvironment.
Lisa M Becker1, Valerie S LeBleu2
1Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Endoglin, a TGFβ/BMP-9 coreceptor, is a potential antiangiogenic target for colorectal cancer. Neutralizing endoglin may also combat metastasis facilitated by cancer-associated fibroblasts.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Endoglin acts as a coreceptor for TGFβ/BMP-9 signaling.
- Endoglin is expressed on endothelial cells and plays a role in angiogenesis.
- Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) express endoglin, potentially promoting metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate endoglin as an antiangiogenic target in colorectal cancer.
- To explore the role of endoglin expressed by CAFs in colorectal cancer metastasis.
- To evaluate the potential benefits of neutralizing endoglin in colorectal cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of endoglin expression in colorectal cancer.
- Investigating the function of endoglin in endothelial cells and CAFs.
- Assessing the antiangiogenic and anti-metastatic effects of endoglin neutralization.
Main Results:
- Endoglin is a promising antiangiogenic target on endothelial cells in colorectal cancer.
- Promiscuous endoglin expression by CAFs facilitates colorectal cancer metastasis.
- Neutralizing endoglin may offer a multitargeted therapeutic benefit.
Conclusions:
- Endoglin presents a viable therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.
- Targeting endoglin could simultaneously inhibit tumor angiogenesis and metastasis.
- Further research into endoglin-targeted therapies is warranted for colorectal cancer.
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