Cancer Discov: Do cancer cells want to metaste from lymphatics? Scientist: I'm sorry, it's not the way

Like healthy tissue, tumors have two different vascular systems.
in addition to the blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients, there are lymphatic tubes that transport immune system cells and tissue fluids through which cancer cells spread and form subgenerous tumors (so-called metastatic tumors).
recent preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted the existence of lymphatic metastasis pathways.
, however, the extent to which the lymphatic system affects metastasis remains an open question due to the lack of appropriate preclinical modeling tools.
To solve this problem and explore ways to limit lymphatic metastasis, scientists at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center modeled the lymphatic system in mouse tumors and found that antibodies targeting lymphatic endodertic cell signaling molecules can cause lymphatic tube death in tumors and inhibit metastasis, thereby prolonging the survival of mice.
the results were published on Cancer Discover.
Specifically, the researchers first developed a method of simulating lymphatic metastasis in mice, a tumor model based on fragments of GEMM (genetically engineered mouse model) that uniquely maintains a functional network of lymphatic tubes in tumors that contributes to the spread of lethal peripheral metastasis.
looking for ways to prevent metastasis, the team focused on lymphatic endothion cells.
endoblast cells control many important properties of blood vessels and lymphatic tubes and produce many signaling molecules and growth factors.
researchers found that angiogen 2 ensures the survival of lymphatic endothor cells in tumors, while antibodies that block angiogen 2 can lead to selective death of the lymphatic tubes in tumors.
of the lymphatic tubes blocked the transport of cancer cells and prevented them from spreading to nearby lymphatics.
, fewer subgenerational tumors formed in distant organs, and mice survived significantly longer.
images of blood vessels (green) and lymphatic tubes (orange) in the cross-section of the tumor.
right: Treatment with angiogen 2 blocking antibodies can cause tumor lymphatic tube death and prevent tumor cells from spreading through the lymphatic tube system.
tumor cells are usually left in the body after cancer surgery and may be the starting point for the recurrence of the disease.
, a researcher, said: "It's amazing that even if we block angiogen-2 shortly before tumor surgery starts, we can still effectively stop the spread of tumors in mice.
" However, the researchers stress that it is only necessary to prove that angiogenesic 2 blockers have therapeutic effects in this treatment window in experimental animals, and that further research is needed to clarify whether this method also contributes to the fight against tumor spread in humans.