A new alternative mechanism in glioblastoma vascularization: tubular vasculogenic mimicry

Brain. 2010 Apr;133(Pt 4):973-82. doi: 10.1093/brain/awq044.

Abstract

Glioblastoma is one of the most angiogenic human tumours and endothelial proliferation is a hallmark of the disease. A better understanding of glioblastoma vasculature is needed to optimize anti-angiogenic therapy that has shown a high but transient efficacy. We analysed human glioblastoma tissues and found non-endothelial cell-lined blood vessels that were formed by tumour cells (vasculogenic mimicry of the tubular type). We hypothesized that CD133+ glioblastoma cells presenting stem-cell properties may express pro-vascular molecules allowing them to form blood vessels de novo. We demonstrated in vitro that glioblastoma stem-like cells were capable of vasculogenesis and endothelium-associated genes expression. Moreover, a fraction of these glioblastoma stem-like cells could transdifferentiate into vascular smooth muscle-like cells. We describe here a new mechanism of alternative glioblastoma vascularization and open a new perspective for the antivascular treatment strategy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / cytology
  • Blood Vessels / growth & development*
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology*
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / blood supply*
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Mimicry / physiology*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy
  • Rats
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured