Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA.
Nat Rev Cancer. 2013 Dec;13(12):871-82. doi: 10.1038/nrc3627.
The function of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cancer is not limited to angiogenesis and vascular permeability. VEGF-mediated signalling occurs in tumour cells, and this signalling contributes to key aspects of tumorigenesis, including the function of cancer stem cells and tumour initiation. In addition to VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases, the neuropilins are crucial for mediating the effects of VEGF on tumour cells, primarily because of their ability to regulate the function and the trafficking of growth factor receptors and integrins. This has important implications for our understanding of tumour biology and for the development of more effective therapeutic approaches.
血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）在癌症中的功能不仅限于血管生成和血管通透性。VEGF 介导的信号转导发生在肿瘤细胞中，这种信号转导有助于肿瘤发生的关键方面，包括癌症干细胞的功能和肿瘤起始。除了 VEGF 受体酪氨酸激酶外，神经纤毛蛋白对于介导 VEGF 对肿瘤细胞的作用至关重要，主要是因为它们能够调节生长因子受体和整合素的功能和运输。这对我们理解肿瘤生物学和开发更有效的治疗方法具有重要意义。
