Normalizing Function of Tumor Vessels: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges

Abnormal blood and lymphatic vessels create a hostile tumor microenvironment characterized by hypoxia, low pH, and elevated interstitial fluid pressure. These abnormalities fuel tumor progression, immunosuppression, and treatment resistance. In 2001, we proposed a novel hypothesis that the judicious use of antiangiogenesis agents-originally developed to starve tumors-could transiently normalize tumor vessels and improve the outcome of anticancer drugs administered during the window of normalization. In addition to providing preclinical and clinical evidence in support of this hypothesis, we also revealed the underlying molecular mechanisms. In parallel, we demonstrated that desmoplasia could also impair…

• IN
  Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
• FA
  Fondation ARC pour la Recherche sur le Cancer
• CN
  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
• JS
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Award: P16731
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Awards: U01-CA 224348, R35-CA197743, P01CA080124, R01-CA208205