title: A new perspective of vasculogenic mimicry: EMT and cancer stem cells (Review).
abstract: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a new pattern of tumor microcirculation, is important for the growth and progression of tumors. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is pivotal in malignant tumor progression and VM formation. With increasing knowledge of cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotypes and functions, increasing evidence suggests that CSCs are involved in VM formation. Recent studies have indicated that EMT is relevant to the acquisition and maintenance of stem cell-like characteristics. Thus, in this review we discuss the correlation between CSCs, EMT and VM formation.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yun-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liang
keywords: angiogenesis; cancer stem cell; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; metastasis; vasculogenic mimicry