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Publications

Journal Article Review Epublish 71 citations

PubMed: 34503254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174444

Normalizing Tumor Vasculature to Reduce Hypoxia, Enhance Perfusion, and Optimize Therapy Uptake.

Cancers (Basel) 13(17)

Authors: Kathy Matuszewska, Madison Pereira, Duncan Petrik, Jack Lawler, Jim Petrik

Affiliations

  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

Abstract

A basic requirement of tumorigenesis is the development of a vascular network to support the metabolic requirements of tumor growth and metastasis. Tumor vascular formation is regulated by a balance between promoters and inhibitors of angiogenesis. Typically, the pro-angiogenic environment created by the tumor is extremely aggressive, resulting in the rapid vessel formation with abnormal, dysfunctional morphology. The altered morphology and function of tumor blood and lymphatic vessels has numerous implications including poor perfusion, tissue hypoxia, and reduced therapy uptake. Targeting tumor angiogenesis as a therapeutic approach has been pursued in a host of different cancers. Although some preclinical success was seen, there has been a general lack of clinical success with traditional anti-angiogenic therapeutics as single agents. Typically, following anti-angiogenic therapy, there is remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and widespread tumor hypoxia, which is associated with development of therapy resistance. A more comprehensive understanding of the biology of tumor angiogenesis and insights into new clinical approaches, including combinations with immunotherapy, are needed to advance vascular targeting as a therapeutic area.

MeSH

Environment, Therapeutics, Neoplasms, Hypoxia

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