Critical role of aberrant angiogenesis in the development of tumor hypoxia and associated radioresistance

Abstract

Newly formed microvessels in most solid tumors show an abnormal morphology and thus do not fulfil the metabolic demands of the growing tumor mass. Due to the chaotic and heterogeneous tumor microcirculation, a hostile tumor microenvironment develops, that is characterized inter alia by local hypoxia, which in turn can stimulate the HIF-system. The latter can lead to tumor progression and may be involved in hypoxia-mediated radioresistance of tumor cells. Herein, cellular and molecular mechanisms in tumor angiogenesis are discussed that, among others, might impact hypoxia-related radioresistance.

Figure 1

“Chronological” steps in tumor angiogenesis (marked in green). Causative mechanisms are marked in yellow and pro-angiogenic factors are marked in red.