title: Cancer stem cells, lymphangiogenesis, and lymphatic metastasis.
abstract: Although current opinion indicates that tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis plays a key role in promoting the initial spread of malignant tumors, the mechanism that underlies lymphatic spread is not clear. The recent discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in human tumors has challenged our current understanding of tumor recurrence, drug resistance, and metastasis, and opens up new research directions on how cancer cells are capable of switching from dormancy to malignancy. CSCs can be directly and indirectly involved in tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis and ultimately promote lymphatic metastasis. However, the details and the possible relationship between CSCs, lymphangiogenesis, and lymphatic metastasis remain ambiguous, and the origin of tumor lymphatic endothelial cells is controversial. Elucidation of these factors may provide useful information for future research and cancer treatment. In this article, we summarize current knowledge of CSCs, tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis, and lymphatic metastasis and attempt to find an association between key molecular and cellular mechanisms. We provide an overview of CSCs and lymphatic vasculature as potential therapeutic targets. CSC- and lymphatic vasculature-targeted therapy may bring new hope for cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Plastic Surgery, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou 510010, China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou 510010, China. Electronic address: ls_zh@126.com.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
keywords: Angiogenesis; Cancer stem cells; Lymphangiogenesis; Lymphatic metastasis; Transdifferentiation