Functional Contribution of PDGFRbeta+ Cells in Angiogenesis and Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abstract

Tumor stroma is known to affect tumor growth and metastasis. Inhibiting PDGF signaling, with the goal of depleting PDGFRβ+ stromal cells, is a putative therapeutic approach in this context. PDGFRβ is widely accepted as a pericyte marker and targeting PDGF signaling primarily affects pericytes. Pericyte-endothelial cell interactions modulate angiogenesis and vascular stability in developmental and pathological contexts. Owing to this, pericytes are speculated to be important regulators of tumor growth and metastasis, although their role is not clear.