Heterogeneity of tumor endothelial cells and drug delivery

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2016 Apr 1;99(Pt B):140-147. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.11.008. Epub 2015 Nov 26.

Abstract

To date anti-angiogenic therapy has been used for cancer therapy widely, yielding promising results. However, it has been elucidated that current anti-angiogenic drug has several issues to be solved, such as side-effects and drug resistance. It has been reported that tumor endothelial cells (TECs) differ from normal counterparts. In addition, it was shown that the TECs are heterogeneous according to the malignancy status of tumor. The development of novel strategy for targeting tumor vasculature is required. Recently, we have developed an active targeting system, which targets TECs specifically. In this review, we will discuss how TECs in tumor vasculature are heterogeneous and offer new perspectives on a drug delivery system, which can target heterogeneous tumor blood vessels from a viewpoint of personalized medicine.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; Anti-angiogenic therapy; Drug delivery; Heterogeneity; MEND; Metastasis; Tumor; Tumor endothelial cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents