title: Consice review: Contribution of cancer stem cells to neovascularization.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a special subpopulation of tumor cells, are considered as tumor initiating cells. More recently, these cells have also been identified as initiators of tumor neovascularization. A better understanding of the contribution of CSCs to neovascularization should elucidate the mechanisms of cancer initiation and progression as well as establish new concepts for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we discuss the evidence for the roles of CSCs in tumor vascularization, including production of proangiogenic factors, transdifferentiation into vascular mural cells such as endothelial and smooth muscle-like cells, and formation of nonendothelium-lined vasculogenic mimicry. In addition, the potential therapeutic significance of targeting CSCs is envisaged.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: Xiu-Wu
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A