血管形成拟态在肿瘤中的研究进展

Research progress in vasculogenic mimicry in multiple tumors

血管生成拟态(vasculogenic mimicry,VM)是指肿瘤中的脉管系统不依赖血管形成,肿瘤细胞具有形成供血管状网络的能力,从而为肿瘤的生长提供丰富的血供模式。VM的形成包括多种分子机制和信号通路,在其形成过程中还发现肿瘤干细胞和上皮-间充质转变。作为一种独特的血供方式,VM与肿瘤细胞的浸润、转移和晚期癌症患者预后密切相关,靶向VM的抗癌疗法将会成为一种新的肿瘤治疗策略。

Vasculogenic mimicry （VM） is a brand-new tumor vascular pattern with the ability to form vessel- like networks without participation of endothelial cells and independent on angiogenesis. It can provide adequate blood supply for tumor growth. The formation of VM involves multiple molecule mechanisms and signal pathways, including cancer stem cell and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. As a unique blood-supply pattern, VM is associated with cancer invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis. Because of its important role in cancer progression, VM will become a new target for therapy of cancers.