Lymphangiogenesis: A new player in cancer progression

Figure 1 Lymphangiogenic growth factors and their receptors expressed by lymphatic endothelium. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor (VEGFR)-3 is a member of the fms-like tyrosine kinase family and specifically binds VEGF-C and VEGF-D, but not VEGF-A. Recent studies also indicate an important role for the VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling pathway in lymphangiogenesis.

Figure 2 Limitations of lymphatic vessel density estimations. The central section of a tumor with a necrotic central core may estimate a misleadingly low lymphatic vessel density (LVD) (left), while the peripheral section of the same tumor may estimate a misleadingly high LVD (right).