TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of endothelial colony forming cells in kidney cancer's pathogenesis, and in resistance to anti-VEGFR agents and mTOR inhibitors
T2 - A speculative review
AU - Poletto, Valentina
AU - Rosti, Vittorio
AU - Biggiogera, Marco
AU - Guerra, Germano
AU - Moccia, Francesco
AU - Porta, Camillo
PY - 2018/12/1
Y1 - 2018/12/1
N2 - Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is highly dependent on angiogenesis, due to the overactivation of the VHL/HIF/VEGF/VEGFRs axis; this justifies the marked sensitivity of this neoplasm to antiangiogenic agents which, however, ultimately fail to control tumor growth. RCC also frequently shows alterations in the mTOR signaling pathway, and mTOR inhibitors have shown a similar pattern of initial activity/late failure as pure antiangiogenic agents. Understanding mechanisms of resistance to these agents would be key to improve the outcome of our patients. Circulating endothelial cells are a family of mainly bone marrow-derived progenitors, which have been postulated to be responsible of the reactivation of angiogenesis in different tumors. In this review, we shall discuss the complex nature and function of these cells, the evidence pro and contra their contribution to tumor vascularization, especially as far as RCC is concerned, and their possible role in determining resistance to presently available treatments.
AB - Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is highly dependent on angiogenesis, due to the overactivation of the VHL/HIF/VEGF/VEGFRs axis; this justifies the marked sensitivity of this neoplasm to antiangiogenic agents which, however, ultimately fail to control tumor growth. RCC also frequently shows alterations in the mTOR signaling pathway, and mTOR inhibitors have shown a similar pattern of initial activity/late failure as pure antiangiogenic agents. Understanding mechanisms of resistance to these agents would be key to improve the outcome of our patients. Circulating endothelial cells are a family of mainly bone marrow-derived progenitors, which have been postulated to be responsible of the reactivation of angiogenesis in different tumors. In this review, we shall discuss the complex nature and function of these cells, the evidence pro and contra their contribution to tumor vascularization, especially as far as RCC is concerned, and their possible role in determining resistance to presently available treatments.
KW - Antiangiogenic agents
KW - Circulating endothelial cells
KW - Endothelial colony forming cells
KW - mTOR inhibitors
KW - Renal cell carcinoma
KW - Resistance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054264643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85054264643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2018.09.005
DO - 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2018.09.005
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85054264643
VL - 132
SP - 89
EP - 99
JO - Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
JF - Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
SN - 1040-8428
ER -