Molecular mechanism of tumor vasculogenic mimicry:research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

Vasculogenic mimicry(VM) refers to the plasticity of malignant tumor cells forming vessel networks to provide blood supply to perfusion of rapidly growing tumors. Key proteins associated with classical, stem cell, hypoxia-related and other multiple signaling pathways, which are involved in regulating functional plasticity of tumor cell VM, have become potential clinical therapeutic targets and diagnostic indicators of the aggressive, metastatic phenotype. VM has been observed in several tumor types and its occurrence is strongly associated with a poor prognosis. This review focuses on the origin and signal molecules and cascades involved in VM, and the clinical significance of VM regarding anti-angiogenesis treatment modalities.