Gliomas are a type of brain tumor known for their ability to evade treatment. One of the ways they do this is through their unique interactions with blood vessels. Not only do they promote the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), but they also hijack existing vessels (vessel co-option) and create their own vessels (vascular mimicry). These mechanisms allow the tumor to spread and make it harder for anti-cancer treatments to reach the tumor cells.
Researchers at Advanced Solutions have developed a 3D in vitro model that mimics the human vascularized glioma tumor microenvironment. This model allows them to study the dynamics between glioma cells and blood vessels in a more realistic setting. In addition to the blood vessels, the model also includes macrophages, which are cells that play a critical role in the immune response.
The study found that, consistent with observations in vivo, glioma cells stimulate angiogenesis. When treated with an anti-angiogenesis agent, the glioma cells physically interact with the angiogenic bed, and alter the inflammatory condition of the tissue environment. These findings suggest that disrupting the interactions between glioma cells and blood vessels could be a promising therapeutic target for treating gliomas.
It is important to note that gliomas have the ability to initially respond to anti-angiogenesis therapy, but eventually escape through poorly defined, vascular-related mechanisms. This highlights the complexity of gliomas and the need for further research in this area.
The Angiomics® 3D in vitro Glioma model provides an innovative approach to study these interactions and could lead to new treatments for gliomas. To learn more about this study, please refer to the full application note:
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