ABSTRACT
The growth of solid tumors is dependent on new blood vessels generated from existed ones,that is tumor angiogenesis.Much material consumption is required in the invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors,to meet the own needs of oxygen and nutrients and remove the metabolic wastes from them,tumor cells will generate new vasculature through different ways.Vasculogenic mimicry is a kind of angiogenesis dominated by tumor cells,it is one style of vascular pattern that is different from traditional endothelial cells pattern.Vasculogenic mimicry plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of tumors.This article will review the relationship between vasculogenic mimicry and tumor invasion and metastasis,tumor angiogenesis,and related signaling pathways.