Mechanisms of Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in TSC Skin Tumors
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an inherited tumor syndrome in whichtumor formation is associated with loss of function of the TSC1-TSC2 complex and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a central regulator of cell growth, and proliferation. Patients develop tumors in the brain, eyes, heart, kidneys, lungs and skin. The skin tumors contain large fibroblast-like cells in the dermis and increased vessels, epidermal proliferation and infiltration of mononuclear phagocytes. It is known that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are important in tumor growth and spread in cancer, but the roles of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the pathogenesis of TSC tumors, and the mechanisms underlying vessel formation, are not well understood. In a novel xenograft model of TSC skin tumors, tumor xenografts showed greater mTORC1 activity, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, mononuclear phagocytes and epidermal proliferation than normal xenografts. The observation that tumor xenografts recapitulated characteristics of TSC skin tumors suggested that they would be useful for studying responses to treatment and identifying mechanisms of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in TSC skin tumors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 16, 2011
- Accession Number
- AD1013361
Entities
People
- Sangeetha Rajesh
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences