Altered angiogenesis and survival in human tumor‐derived endothelial cells

Abstract
SPECIFIC AIMSThe concept that newly formed and remodeled vessels are different from the quiescent vessels present in adult tissues is at the basis of the use of specific angiogenesis inhibitors in the treatment of cancer. However, the phenotypic and functional characteristics of tumor-derived endothelial cells are poorly known. The aim of the present study was to establish and characterize at a functional and molecular level endothelial cell lines derived from highly vascularized human renal carcinomas. We studied in vitro and in vivo the angiogenic characteristics, sensitivity to apoptosis, and the proadhesive properties of two different tumor endothelial cell (TEC) lines compared with normal endothelial cells. To investigate the differences at a molecular level, we studied by gene array technology the expression of genes related to the oncogenic transformation, cell survival, adhesion, and angiogenesis and the role of the PI3K/Akt survival-dependent pathway. Using soluble chimeric receptor inhibitors, w...
Funding Information
  • Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro