title: Pericytes: a double-edged sword in cancer therapy.
abstract: Pericytes, which envelope the vascular endothelium throughout the body, are often targeted to promote vascular normalization and restore normal function of blood vessels in cancer treatment. The goals of pericyte-targeted therapy tend to promote proper vascular normalization of the tumor. Tumor vascular normalization prevents metastasis, increases tumor oxygenation (making radiation more effective in killing tumor cells), optimizes Starling forces to increase delivery of cancer cell-directed therapies (e.g., chemotherapy or targeted agents), increases the efficacy of focal therapies (e.g., surgery or radiation), and increases recognition by the host immune system. We review how approaches in pericyte-targeted therapy aim to reach a balance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic function (i.e., by targeting platelet-derived growth factor beta receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and Tie-2) for tumor vascular normalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, CyberKnife Center, & Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, PR China.
authors.forename: Mao-Bin
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Nicholas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Zaorsky
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Huan-Huan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Lu-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ping
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020286:Pericytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
keywords: angiogenesis-modulating agents; anti-angiogenesis therapy; blood supply; neoplasms; neovascularization; pathology; pericytes