BMS 860 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Proline, Hif1A, Microvessel
3 May 2017
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Document Summary
Cancer cells require access to circulation to grow and survive. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue such as infection or trauma. In contrast, apoptosis is a naturally occurring programmed and targeted cause of cellular death. While apoptosis often provides beneficial effects to the organism, necrosis is almost always detrimental and can be fatal: cancer cells far from blood vessels undergo necrosis (cell death) Cancer tissues suffering from hypoxia can become necrotic: prostate adenocarcinoma cells have necrosis in the middle of the tissue because they do not have access to the stroma and associated vasculature. Capillary networks are packed densely in both normal and tumour tissues: vasculature is needed to avoid hypoxia, to acquire nutrients, to shed metabolic waste products and carbon dioxide. Recruitment of capillaries by implanted tumours: as a tumor grows, there are more vessels, disorganized and large in size. Pericytes and smooth muscle cells are loosely attached to tumour-associated blood vessels.
