Open AccessConcise Review: Vascular Stem Cells and Tumor Angiogenesis
Author(s) -
MeleroMartin Juan M.,
Dudley Andrew C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.583
Subject(s) - biology , angiogenesis , stem cell , cancer research , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Solid tumors are complex “organs” of cancer cells and a heterogeneous population of hematopoietic cells, mesenchymal cells, and endothelial cells. The cancer stem cell model proposes that tumor growth and progression is driven by rare populations of cancer stem cells; however, nontumor‐forming stem and progenitor cells are also present within the tumor microenvironment. These adult stem cells do not form tumors when injected into experimental animals, but they may augment tumor growth through juxtacrine and paracrine regulation of tumor cells and by contributing to neovascularization. Thus, cancer cells may actively co‐opt nontumor‐forming stem cells distally from the bone marrow or proximally from nearby tissue and subvert their abilities to differentiate and maintain tissue growth, repair, and angiogenesis. This review will cover the roles of nontumor‐forming vascular stem cells in tumor growth and angiogenesis. S TEM C ELLS 2011;29:163–168