The dual role of tumor lymphatic vessels in dissemination of metastases and immune response development.
Lymphatic vasculature plays a crucial role in the immune response, enabling transport of dendritic cells (DCs) and antigens (Ags) into the lymph nodes. Unfortunately, the lymphatic system has also a negative role in the progression of cancer diseases, by facilitating the metastatic spread of many carcinomas to the draining lymph nodes. The lymphatics can promote antitumor immune response as well as tumor tolerance. Here, we review the role of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in tumor progression and immunity and mechanism of action in the newest anti-lymphatic therapies, including photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Joanna
J
Stachura
Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Immunology of Developmental Age, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Malgorzata
M
Wachowska
Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago , Chicago, IL, USA.
Witold W
WW
Kilarski
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, UK.
Esra
E
Güç
Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw , Warsaw, Poland.
Jakub
J
Golab
Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw , Warsaw, Poland.
Angelika
A
Muchowicz
Anti-lymphatic therapies; CCR7; lymphatic endothelial cells; photodynamic therapy; vascular endothelial growth factor