Vascularization of testicular germ cell tumours: evidence from experimental teratocarcinomas.
Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) represent about 2% of male malignancies, being the most common cancer among adolescents and young adults. As in most neoplasias, TGCTs show a chaotic vascular architecture, altered blood supply and over-expression of pro-angiogenic factors, aspects closely related to tumour overgrowth and metastasis. Following this trend, our laboratory has analysed the effect of the hypoxic tumour microenvironment on cancer stem cells, particularly the expression of factors related to vascularization, such as matrix metalloproteinases, adhesion molecules, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and VEGF receptors. This review also summarizes our present knowledge on vascularization in the normal and neoplastic testis, the potential role of the factors involved in TGCT neovascularization and their importance as possible therapeutic targets.
Silván
U
U
Laboratory of Stem Cells, Development and Cancer, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, and Analytical and High Resolution Biomedical Microscopy Core Facility, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Vizcaya, Spain.
Díez-Torre
A
A
Jiménez-Rojo
L
L
Aréchaga
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000502:physiology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000098:blood supply*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018243:Teratocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016023:Integrins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14