title: The non-canonical role of vascular endothelial growth factor-C axis in cancer progression.
abstract: It has been shown in many clinical studies that the level of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) positively correlates with lymph node metastasis. Nevertheless, beyond the canonical role of VEGF-C in stimulating lymphangiogenesis and thus promoting lymph node/distant metastasis, emerging evidence indicates that expression of VEGF-C contributes to various aspects of carcinogenicity via autocrine regulation. The newly identified functions of VEGF-C include but are not limited to proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemo-resistance. Besides tumor cell autocrine regulation, VEGF-C can also modulate the immune system such that tumor cells more easily escape immune surveillance. Therefore, understanding the functional roles and regulatory mechanisms related to the VEGF-C axis may lead to alternative strategies for cancer treatment. This mini-review will focus on summarizing recent discoveries regarding the unconventional functions of VEGF-C in cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chu-An
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan seantsai@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shaw-Jenq
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
keywords: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C; autocrine; cancer stem cells; drug resistance; immunomodulation; lymphangiogenesis