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Updated: Jun 14, 2025
Intravital Microscopy of Tumor-associated Vasculature Using Advanced Dorsal Skinfold Window Chambers on Transgenic Fluorescent Mice
Published on: January 19, 2018
Targeting the tumour vasculature: from vessel destruction to promotion
Sophie Guelfi1, Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke2, Gabriele Bergers3
1Department of Oncology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology and KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
As angiogenesis was recognized as a core hallmark of cancer growth and survival, several strategies have been implemented to target the tumour vasculature. Yet to date, attempts have rarely been so diverse, ranging from vessel growth inhibition and destruction to vessel normalization, reprogramming and vessel growth promotion. Some of these strategies, combined with standard of care, have translated into improved cancer therapies, but their successes are constrained to certain cancer types. This Review provides an overview of these vascular targeting approaches and puts them into context based on our subsequent improved understanding of the tumour vasculature as an integral part of the tumour microenvironment with which it is functionally interlinked. This new knowledge has already led to dual targeting of the vascular and immune cell compartments and sets the scene for future investigations of possible alternative approaches that consider the vascular link with other tumour microenvironment components for improved cancer therapy.
Insights
Targeting tumor vasculature through angiogenesis strategies shows promise in cancer therapy. Diverse approaches, including normalization and dual targeting with immunotherapy, improve outcomes but vary by cancer type.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Tumor Microenvironment
Background:
- Angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth and survival.
- Vascular targeting strategies aim to inhibit or modify tumor vasculature.
- Current successes are limited to specific cancer types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review diverse vascular targeting strategies in cancer therapy.
- To contextualize these approaches based on the tumor vasculature's role in the tumor microenvironment.
- To explore future directions for improved cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of angiogenesis and vascular targeting strategies.
- Analysis of the functional interlink between tumor vasculature and microenvironment.
- Discussion of dual targeting approaches and future therapeutic avenues.
Main Results:
- Diverse strategies exist, including vessel growth inhibition, destruction, normalization, reprogramming, and promotion.
- Some strategies combined with standard care improve cancer therapies, but efficacy is cancer-type dependent.
- Understanding the tumor vasculature as part of the tumor microenvironment is key.
Conclusions:
- Vascular targeting strategies have evolved significantly.
- Dual targeting of vascular and immune cells shows promise.
- Future research should explore links between vasculature and other microenvironment components for novel cancer therapies.
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