title: Crosstalk between angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in tumor progression.
abstract: Extensive studies have identified reliable markers of lymphatic endothelial cells, and mechanisms and molecules that regulate development and growth of the lymphatic vessels. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D, and their cognate receptor tyrosine kinase, VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), are critical regulators of lymphangiogenesis. By binding to its endothelial cell surface receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, VEGF-A mediates vascular leakage, endothelial proliferation and migration. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is expressed at sites of blood vessel remodeling and invasion, and factors that induce angiogenesis in vivo, such as VEGF-A, upregulate Ang-2 in endothelial cells. In this review, we summarize the literature concerning the crosstalk between angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in tumor progression, that is, involvement of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 in angiogenesis, and the role played by VEGF-A and Ang-2 in lymphangiogenesis, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scavelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dammacco
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ribatti
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors