Advances in anti-vasculogenic mimicry therapy / 国际外科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a term that describes a novel form of angiogenesis, channels of which are patterned networks of interconnected loops of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive extracellular matrix forming by highly aggressive tumor cells instead of endothelial cells. VM is closely correlated with the invasiveness, metastasis and prognosis of related tumors. However, traditional anti-vascular therapies aiming at endothelial cells have no remarkable effects on malignant tumor with VM. Therefore, VM should be an important factor to consider in design of anti-angiogenesis therapies of highly aggressive tumors and it is expected to become a potential target for tumor therapy. Some recent progresses of anti- vasculogenic mimicry therapy are reviewed in this article.