Xu Shuo, Zhang Hong, Tian Yu
Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, China.
Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2025 May 20. doi: 10.1007/s13402-025-01073-6.
Metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, underscores the critical need to understand its regulatory mechanisms to improve prevention and treatment strategies for late-stage tumors. Hematogenous dissemination is a key route of metastasis. However, as the gatekeeper of vessels, the role of pericytes in hematogenous metastasis remains largely unknown. In this review, we comprehensively explore the contributions of pericytes throughout the metastatic cascade, particularly their functions that extend beyond influencing tumor angiogenesis. Pericytes should not be perceived as passive bystanders, but rather as active participants in various stages of the metastatic cascade. Pericytes-targeted therapy may provide novel insights for preventing and treating advanced-stage tumor.
转移是癌症相关死亡的主要原因，这凸显了深入了解其调控机制对于改善晚期肿瘤预防和治疗策略的迫切需求。血行播散是转移的关键途径。然而，作为血管的守护者，周细胞在血行转移中的作用在很大程度上仍不清楚。在这篇综述中，我们全面探讨了周细胞在整个转移级联反应中的作用，特别是其超出影响肿瘤血管生成的功能。周细胞不应被视为被动旁观者，而应被视为转移级联反应各个阶段的积极参与者。靶向周细胞的治疗可能为晚期肿瘤的防治提供新的思路。
