Tumor angiogenesis of non–small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the commonest causes of cancer death in developed countries. Recent evidence suggests that angoigenesis is related to poor prognosis in many solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Angiogenesis is regulated by a complex interaction among growth factors and cytokines and influenced by proteolytic enzymes such as plasminogen activators and matrix metalloproteases, expression of adhesion molecules, and distribution of extracellular matrices. Fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, and endothelial cells themselves also affect angiogenesis. This review concentrates on angiogenic growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietins, platelet derived endothelial growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor, proteases, adhesion molecules including vascular endothelial cadherin and integrins, osteopontin, and mast cell products in tumor angiogenesis of NSCLC.

Clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor‐C and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 in patients with T1 lung adenocarcinoma

“…Our previous observations have demonstrated that microvessel and mast cell densities in lung adenocarcinomas were significantly greater than those in lung squamous cell carcinomas and that microvessel and mast cell densities were closely asso- ciated with tumor-cell VEGF in lung adenocarcinomas. 29,33,34 The different functions of VEGF and VEGF-C in relation to tumor histology may reflect clinical behaviors of lung adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. Tumor-cell VEGF-C in lung adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas should be clarified in large-scale studies.…”

Role of infiltrated leucocytes in tumour growth and spread

“…An infiltration of mast cells has been found in a variety of human cancers, including non-small-cell lung cancer (Shijubo et al, 2003), breast cancer (Kankkunen et al, 1997), colorectal cancer (Lachter et al, 1995), basal cell carcinoma (Yamamoto et al, 1997) and pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Imada et al, 2000). The accumulation of mast cells has been associated with enhanced growth and invasion of several human cancers (Ribatti et al, 2001).…”

Prognostic significance of osteopontin expression in non-small-cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis

“…OPN is an important adhesive bone matrix protein and plays a key role in immune cell recruitment, wound healing and tissue remodeling (5). OPN contains 314 amino acids with extensive post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation and N-linked glycosylation, which result in electrophoretic mobility between 44 and 75 kDa.…”