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Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Assessing Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Doorway-Mediated Vascular Permeability Associated with Cancer Cell Dissemination using Intravital Imaging and Fixed Tissue Analysis
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Assessing Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Doorway-Mediated Vascular Permeability Associated with Cancer Cell Dissemination using Intravital Imaging and Fixed Tissue Analysis

Published on: June 26, 2019

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BMP9 signaling promotes the normalization of tumor blood vessels

Claire Viallard1,2, Cindy Audiger1,3, Natalija Popovic1,2

  • 1Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Oncogene
|February 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) promotes tumor vascular normalization in Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) models. This vascular normalization enhances anti-cancer effects by reducing hypoxia and increasing immune cell infiltration.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Immature tumor vasculature promotes cancer spread and treatment resistance.
  • Current vascular normalization strategies using VEGF inhibitors have limitations in timing and dosage.
  • Identifying novel targets for vascular normalization is crucial for effective cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of the endothelial receptor Alk1 ligand, bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), on tumor vascular formation.
  • To evaluate BMP9 as a potential therapeutic agent for normalizing tumor vasculature.

Main Methods:

  • Overexpression of BMP9 in Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells.
  • Analysis of tumor growth, vascular maturation markers, and perivascular cell coverage.
  • Assessment of tumor vascular permeability, perfusion, hypoxia, and immune cell infiltration.

Main Results:

  • BMP9 overexpression significantly delayed LLC tumor growth.
  • Tumor vessels exhibited enhanced maturation, increased perivascular cell coverage, reduced permeability, and improved perfusion.
  • BMP9-induced vascular normalization led to decreased tumor hypoxia and increased immune cell infiltration.

Conclusions:

  • BMP9 promotes vascular normalization in LLC tumors.
  • BMP9-mediated vascular normalization alters the tumor microenvironment, reducing hypoxia and enhancing immune infiltration.
  • BMP9 represents a promising target for improving cancer therapy through vascular normalization.

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