Vascular co-option

Abstract

Vascular co-option is an alternative mechanism to interact with blood vessels used by normal cells and hijacked by cancer cells. Functional experiments using in vivo models have demonstrated that co-option of pre-existing capillary networks is a critical step for the initiation of multiorgan metastases from different cancer types. Thus targeting this process pharmacologically is a very promising strategy to prevent metastases. Vascular co-option supports the viability of disseminated tumor cells, even when they remain dormant. Additionally, targeting vascular co-option could be a valuable strategy to challenge the emergence of resistance to more conventional therapies.