Tumor angiogenesis – a novel therapeutic target

In contrast to the extensive molecular and functional characterization of tumor angiogenesis, little is known about the mechanisms how tumor cells gain entry into the lymphatic system, mainly due to the lack of specific markers and of identified mediators of lymphatic vessel formation.

We have developed a new method for the selective isolation and culture of human blood vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells and have identified more than 300 lymphatic-specific and blood vessel-specific genes.

We are investigating whether these genes are also involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and of human lymphedema, and whether some of these gene products might serve as novel targets to inhibit tumor angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and metastasis.

Interestingly, we recently found that cancer viruses can re-program the vascular transcriptome, potentially identifying new molecular targets for the treatment of AIDS-associated malignancies.