Targeting of endothelial cells in brain tumours

Abstract

BackgroundAggressive brain tumours, whether primary gliomas or secondary metastases, are characterised by hypervascularisation and are fatal. Recent research has emphasised the crucial involvement of endothelial cells (ECs) in all brain tumour genesis and development events, with various patterns and underlying mechanisms identified.Main bodyHere, we highlight recent advances in knowledge about the contributions of ECs to brain tumour development, providing a comprehensive summary including descriptions of interactions between ECs and tumour cells, the heterogeneity of ECs and new models for research on ECs in brain malignancies. We also discuss prospects for EC targeting in novel therapeutic approaches.ConclusionInterventions targeting ECs, as an adjunct to other therapies (e.g. immunotherapies, molecular‐targeted therapies), have shown promising clinical efficacy due to the high degree of vascularisation in brain tumours. Developing precise strategies to target tumour‐associated vessels based on the heterogeneity of ECs is expected to improve anti‐vascular efficacy.

A comparison study of dynamic [18F]Alfatide II imaging and [11C]MET in orthotopic rat models of glioblastoma

“…Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, is a critical process in the progression and metastasis of glioblastoma (Verdugo et al 2022 ). Extensive research has identified various signaling pathways involved in glioblastoma growth and metastasis, presenting potential targets for therapeutic intervention (Duan et al 2023 ). In this context, integrins, particularly involved in cell signaling during angiogenesis, emerge as crucial biomarkers and therapeutic targets.…”

Characterization of tumor endothelial cells (TEC) in gastric cancer and development of a TEC-based risk signature using single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data

“…It has been reported that distinguished from normal endothelial cells (NECs), TECs exhibit chromosomal instability, altered gene expression, enhanced proliferative capacities, and resistance to anti-angiogenic drugs [ 22 , 23 ]. Targeting TECs can inhibit tumor progression and prolong patient survival by blocking the formation of tumor blood vessels [ 16 , 22 , 24 ]. Based on the scRNA-seq analysis, the study by Yin et al revealed a TEC cluster in GC tissues that exclusively expressed IGFBP5 and displayed malignant characteristics [ 23 ].…”