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Lymphangiogenesis in tumors: What do we know?
Author(s) -
ReisFilho Jorge Sergio,
Schmitt Fernando C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10255
Subject(s) - lymphangiogenesis , lymphatic system , podoplanin , lymphatic endothelium , vascular endothelial growth factor c , lymphatic vessel , pathology , biology , cancer research , pathological , medicine , vegf receptors , vascular endothelial growth factor , cancer , vascular endothelial growth factor a , metastasis , genetics
Lymphangiogenesis, the growth of new lymphatic vessels, has long been regarded as a putative efficient pathway to neoplastic metastization. However, until recently consistent data regarding reliable lymphatic endothelial cell markers were lacking. Moreover, the presence of new formed lymphatic vessels was considered a largely disputable concept. Now, this scenario has changed significantly, owing to consistent reports describing novel lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) markers, the demonstration of new formed lymphatic vessels within the bulk of the tumor in animal models and human neoplasms, and the characterization of the VEGF‐C/VEGFR‐3 pathway. We herein review the major breakthroughs in the field of lymphangiogenesis, with special emphasis on novel and reliable LEC markers, such as prox‐1, LYVE‐1, and podoplanin, as well as on the pathological assessment of lymphangiogenesis as a putative prognostic factor for human neoplasms. Microsc. Res. Tech. 60:171–180, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.