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Vascular endothelium in cancer

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Abstract

The vascular endothelium plays an essential role during organogenesis and in tissue homeostasis. Growing evidence also supports its essential and complex role in tumour biology and cancer progression. In particular, excessive proliferation and transformation or dysfunction of endothelial cells leads to pathological (lymph)angiogenesis or vascular malfunctions, which are hallmarks of neoplastic and malignant disorders. Reciprocal interactions between endothelial cells and the local tumour microenvironment may regulate tumour progression and resistance to anti-cancer therapies in a tumour-type-specific manner.

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Chris Boshoff, Juan Funes, Dimitrios Lagos, Vicky Emuss and Amy Hansen for useful discussions.

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  1. Viral Oncology Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, Paul O’Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Leonid L. Nikitenko

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  1. Leonid L. Nikitenko
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Correspondence to Leonid L. Nikitenko.

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This work was supported by Cancer Research UK.

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Nikitenko, L.L. Vascular endothelium in cancer. Cell Tissue Res 335, 223–240 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-008-0707-4

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