Cancer Stem Cells and Its Role in Angiogenesis and Vasculogenic Mimicry in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Frontiers in Oncology

Melisa Avendaño-Félix¹  Erik Lizárraga-Verdugo¹  Rosalio Ramos-Payán¹  Maribel Aguilar-Medina¹  Mercedes Bermúdez¹  Carlos Pérez-Plasencia² 

[1] Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Mexico;Laboratorio de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Ciudad de México, Mexico;

关键词: CSCs;    esophageal;    gastric;    colorectal cancer;    angiogenesis;    vasculogenic mimicry;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fonc.2020.00413

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are able to promote initiation, survival and maintenance of tumor growth and have been involved in gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) such as esophageal, gastric and colorectal. It is well known that blood supply facilitates cancer progression, recurrence, and metastasis. In this regard, tumor-induced angiogenesis begins with expression of pro-angiogenic molecules such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which in turn lead to neovascularization and thus to tumor growth. Another pattern of blood supply is called vasculogenic mimicry (VM). It is a reminiscent of the embryonic vascular network and is carried out by CSCs that have the capability of transdifferentiate and form vascular-tube structures in absence of endothelial cells. In this review, we discuss the role of CSCs in angiogenesis and VM, since these mechanisms represent a source of tumor nutrition, oxygenation, metabolic interchange and facilitate metastasis. Identification of CSCs mechanisms involved in angiogenesis and VM could help to address therapeutics for GICs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown