Open AccessA new perspective of vasculogenic mimicry: EMT and cancer stem cells (Review)
Author(s) -
Yunlong Fan,
Min Zheng,
Yaling Tang,
Xinhua Liang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
oncology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.766
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1792-1082
pISSN - 1792-1074
DOI - 10.3892/ol.2013.1555
Subject(s) - vasculogenic mimicry , cancer stem cell , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , oncogene , biology , cancer research , cancer , molecular medicine , stem cell , cell cycle , pathology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , metastasis , genetics
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a new pattern of tumor microcirculation, is important for the growth and progression of tumors. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is pivotal in malignant tumor progression and VM formation. With increasing knowledge of cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotypes and functions, increasing evidence suggests that CSCs are involved in VM formation. Recent studies have indicated that EMT is relevant to the acquisition and maintenance of stem cell-like characteristics. Thus, in this review we discuss the correlation between CSCs, EMT and VM formation.