Linking tumor hypoxia with VEGFR2 signaling and compensatory angiogenesis

Abstract

Although blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is clinically beneficial in certain cancers, tumor regrowth in treated patients suggests that compensatory angiogenic programs may limit the efficacy of anti-VEGF treatment. We found that association of galectin-1 with complex N-glycans on VEGFR2 links tumor hypoxia to VEGFR2 signaling and preserves angiogenesis in response to VEGF blockade.

Keywords: :

• angiogenesis
• glycans
• cancer immunotherapy
• anti-VEGF
• glycosylation
• galectin
• inflammation

Citation: Croci DO, Rabinovich GA. Linking tumor hypoxia with VEGFR2 signaling and compensatory angiogenesis: Sugar-derived glycans make the difference. OncoImmunology 2014; 3:e29380; 10.4161/onci.29380

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

Work in G.A.R.’s laboratory is supported by grants from the Argentinean Agency for Promotion of Science and Technology (PICT 2010; PICT 2012), CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Sales Foundation and donations from Ferioli and Ostry families.