Abstract
Going from bench to bedside is a simplified description of translational research, with the ultimate goal being to improve the health status of mankind. Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) perform angiogenesis to support the growth, establishment, and dissemination of tumors to distant organs. TECs have various features that distinguish them from normal endothelial cells, which include alterations in gene expression patterns, higher angiogenic and metabolic activities, and drug resistance tendencies. The special characteristics of TECs enhance the vulnerability of tumor blood vessels toward antiangiogenic therapeutic strategies. Therefore, apart from being a viable therapeutic target, TECs would act as a better mediator between the bench (i.e., angiogenesis research) and the bedside (i.e., clinical application of drugs discovered through research). Exploitation of TEC characteristics could reveal unidentified strategies of enhancing and monitoring antiangiogenic therapy in the treatment of cancer, which are discussed in this review.
Highlights
Basic research provides a wealth of information to explain scientific and clinical observations; at this level, nothing can be done clinically to improve the health of patients if the research findings are not applied appropriately
Having described the characteristics of Tumor endothelial cells (TECs), the focus of this review will be turned toward elaborating the contribution of this special groups of cells to improve clinical applications of tumor angiogenesis research findings
These approaches can provide a good idea about the microvessel presence and density within the tumor, they do not adequately inform about the blood vessel formation process or how the vasculature changes in response to therapeutic strategies targeting the tumor cells and/or TECs
Summary
Basic research provides a wealth of information to explain scientific and clinical observations; at this level, nothing can be done clinically to improve the health of patients if the research findings are not applied appropriately. This review addresses the T1 level (“which advances the movement between basic research and patient-oriented research that leads to new or improved scientific understanding or standards of care” [1]) with regard to cancer therapy via tumor angiogenesis research. Tumor angiogenesis has been a pivotal target for cancer therapy. Tumor endothelial cells (TECs), being distinct from normal endothelial cells (NECs), possess characteristics and features that are useful in translational research for the improvement of cancer treatment. This review discusses how TECs can serve as a better tool in translational research
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