Integrins in Tumor Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessel, plays an important role for the growth and metastasis of malignant tumors. The recent identification of specific growth factors for lymphatic vessels and of new lymphatic-specific markers provided evidence for an active role of the lymphatic system during the tumor growth and metastasis processes. Tumor lymphangiogenesis has been shown to play a role in promoting tumor growth and metastasis of tumor cells to distant sites. Integrins play keys roles in the regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis during normal development and several diseases. Indeed, integrins control vascular and lymphatic endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and survival. Importantly, integrin inhibitors can block angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. In this chapter, we will highlight the role of integrins during angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis as well as the function of individual integrins during vascular development, postnatal angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. We discuss the role of integrins as potential therapeutic targets for the control of tumor angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and metastatic spread in the treatment of cancer. We also describe methods to analyze expression and function of integrins during angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.