Molecular analysis of tumor-vessel interactions during tumor progression
Final Report Abstract
The Augustin laboratory has within the SPP1190 pursued during the two funding periods several avenues towards the analysis of tumor-vessel interactions during tumor progression and metastasis. We have towards this end: (i) developed a unique and highly versatile novel in vivo angiogenesis assay; (ii) studied the role of ephrinB2/EphB4 interactions as adhesive mechanism and the role of such adhesive interactions as a molecular mediator of site-specific metastasis; (iii) identified Semaphorin3G as a primarily vascular acting class 3 semaphorin that acts as an endogenous inhibitor of lymphangiogenesis. We also identified a role of Sema3G in triggering tumor cell mesenchymal-to-epithelial transformation (MET). (iv) studied the tumor-stromal marker Endosialin. We have determined that Endosialin is not a tumor-endothelial marker, but instead expressed by tumor-associated pericytes and tumor stromal myofibroblasts. We have identified Mac2BP/90k as extracellular Endosialin binding partner and we have studied the role of Endosialin during tumor angiogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis as well as during organ fibrosis.
