title: Class 3 semaphorins: physiological vascular normalizing agents for anti-cancer therapy.
abstract: Findings from preclinical and clinical studies show that vascular normalization represents a novel strategy to enhance the efficacy of and overcome the acquired resistance to anti-angiogenic therapies in cancer. Several mechanisms of tumour vessel normalization have been revealed. Amongst them, secreted class 3 semaphorins (Sema3), which regulate axon guidance and angiogenesis, have been recently identified as novel vascular normalizing agents that inhibit metastatic dissemination by restoring vascular function. Here, we discuss the different biological functions and mechanisms of action of Sema3 in the context of tumour vascular normalization, and their impact on the different cellular components of the tumour microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cancer Research at Candiolo (IRCC), University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bussolino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giraudo
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D039961:Semaphorins