title: From sprouting angiogenesis to erythrocytes generation by cancer stem cells: evolving concepts in tumor microcirculation.
abstract: Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. Over the last decades, a substantial progress has been achieved in defining different patterns of tumor microcirculation. Sprouting angiogenesis, the oldest model of microcirculation, is the de novo vessel formation from preexisting blood vessels. Vessel splitting and hijacking, also known, respectively, as intussusception and cooption, are alternative models that account for tumor resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. In addition to remodeling the microenvironment, the tumor cell can undergo intrinsic changes and survive hypoxic conditions by acquiring stem cell properties. In line with the concept of pluripotency, tumor cells can form vascular mimicry structures creating their own microcirculation despite a latent vessel growth. The recent identification of the polyploid giant cancer cells and tumor-derived erythrocytes is the most innovative survival mechanism in hypoxia and provides a potential target for more effective therapies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Raafat S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Alameddine
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Lana
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6872-3182
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hamieh
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3725-8403
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamseddine
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors