Dual role of endothelial in tumor angiogenesis and tumor immunity.

The cross-talk between angiogenesis and immunity within the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for tumor prognosis. While pro-angiogenic and immunosuppressive TME promote tumor growth, anti-angiogenic and immune stimulatory TME inhibit tumor progression. Therefore, there is a great interest in achieving vascular normalization to improve drug delivery and enhance antitumor immunity. However, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mechanisms to normalize tumor vessels have offered limited therapeutic efficacies for patients with cancer. Here, we report that , a direct target of ETV2, was nearly exclusively expressed in endothelial cells. In preclinical mouse tumor models, deficiency reduced angiogenesis, enhanced high endothelial venule formation, and promoted antitumor immunity, leading to restricted tumor progression. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets revealed a significant ( < 0.05) correlation between expression, angiogenesis, and antitumor immunity in human cancers, as suggested by decreased expression and increased antitumor macrophages in patients with low expression. Mechanistically, MYCT1 interacted with tight junction protein Zona Occludens 1 and regulated Rho GTPase-mediated actin cytoskeleton dynamics, thereby promoting endothelial motility in the angiogenic environment. -deficient endothelial cells facilitated trans-endothelial migration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and polarization of M1 macrophages. targeting combined with anti-PD1 treatment significantly ( < 0.05) increased complete tumor regression and long-term survival in anti-PD1-responsive and -refractory tumor models in mice. Our data collectively support a critical role for in controlling tumor angiogenesis and reprogramming tumor immunity. -targeted vascular control, in combination with immunotherapy, may become an exciting therapeutic strategy.