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Sustained Angiogensis: the 5th hallmark of cancer

National Cancer Institute

The capability of sustained angiogenesis reflects the fact that tumours often outgrow their blood supply and must actively recruit vasculature in order to grow.

In normal tissues, the development of new blood vessels is highly regulated by both positive and negative signals.

Tumor cells promote angiogenesis by upregulating the pathways that promote blood vessel formation (e.g., increased expression of growth factors such as vascular endothelial and fibroblast growth factors) and by reducing the activity of inhibitory pathways.

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