Cao Yihai
Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
Lymphat Res Biol. 2008;6(3-4):145-8. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2008.1007.
Accumulating evidence shows that a subset of solid tumors stimulates lymphangiogenesis, which mediates lymphatic metastasis. Unlike blood vessels, lymphatics do not provide oxygen and nutrients that are essential for tumor growth. Why then do tumors induce lymphatic vessel growth? Do lymphatics play an active role in promoting tumor growth? Is tumor lymphangiogenesis secondary to blood vessel angiogenesis? How do tumors induce lymphangiogenesis? This review article focuses on discussing these fundamental issues related to cancer metastasis.
越来越多的证据表明，一部分实体瘤会刺激淋巴管生成，而淋巴管生成介导淋巴转移。与血管不同，淋巴管并不提供肿瘤生长所必需的氧气和营养物质。那么，肿瘤为什么会诱导淋巴管生长呢？淋巴管在促进肿瘤生长中是否发挥积极作用？肿瘤淋巴管生成是继发于血管生成吗？肿瘤如何诱导淋巴管生成？这篇综述文章着重讨论这些与癌症转移相关的基本问题。
