Vascular heterogeneity and targeting: the role of YKL-40 in glioblastoma vascularization

摘要: Malignant glioblastomas (GBM) are highly malignant brain tumors that have extensive and aberrant tumor vasculature, including multiple types of vessels. This review focuses on recent discoveries the angiogenic factor YKL-40 (CHI3L1) acts glioblastoma-stem like cells (GSCs) to drive formation two major forms vascularization: angiogenesis vasculogenic mimicry (VM). GSCs possess multipotent able transdifferentiate into vascular pericytes or smooth muscle (PC/SMCs) either coordinate with endothelial (ECs) facilitate assemble in absence ECs form blood-perfused channels via VM. GBMs express high levels drives divergent signaling cascades mediate these distinct microvascular circulations. Although a variety anti-tumor agents target demonstrated transient benefits for patients, they often fail restrict growth, which underscores need additional therapeutic tools. We propose targeting may compliment conventional anti-angiogenic therapies provide substantial clinical benefit patients GBM several other solid tumors.