Vascular update: morphogenesis, tumors, malformations, and molecular dimensions

Abstract

This vascular review is organized under the following headings: vasculogenesis and angiogenesis; vascular endothelial growth factors, their receptors, TIE receptors, and angiopoietins; other factors in blood vessel formation; parallel patterning in blood vessels and nerves; physiological and pathological neovascularization; the role of VEGF receptors in metastasis; anti-angiogenic therapy for tumors; association of blood vessels with fat; vascular malformations and vascular tumors; infantile hemangiomas; congenital hemangiomas; lymphatic malformations; molecular characteristics of some disorders with vascular malformations; Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon; Sturge-Weber syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, and Parkes Weber syndrome; diagnostic and laboratory studies; and future perspectives.