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Testa et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2020;6:53 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2020.111 Metastasis and Treatment

Review Open Access

Angiogenesis in acute myeloid leukemia

Ugo Testa, Germana Castelli, Elvira Pelosi

Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy.

Correspondence to: Dr. Ugo Testa, Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161,
Italy. E-mail: ugo.testa@iss.it

How to cite this article: Testa U, Castelli G, Pelosi E. Angiogenesis in acute myeloid leukemia. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2020;6:53.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2020.111

Received: 9 Oct 2020 First Decision: 30 Oct 2020 Revised: 16 Nov 2020 Accepted: 30 Nov 2020 Published: 24 Dec 2020
Academic Editor: Domenico Ribatti Copy Editor: Miao Zhang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Abstract
Angiogenesis is a word that refers to new blood vessel formation, and this process is of fundamental importance
for physiological development and tissue homeostasis, as well as the genesis of several diseases, including tumors.
Thus, studies carried out in the last years have shown that angiogenesis is essential for the growth of many solid
tumors. Angiogenesis is also important for the growth of many hematological malignancies, including acute
myeloid leukemia (AML). Endothelial cells are essential constituents of the bone marrow vascular niches, structures
essential for the survival and maintenance of normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Bone marrow endothelial
cells play an essential role in leukemia development and there is growing evidence that a targeting of both leukemic
and endothelial cells of the leukemic vascular niche may improve the efficacy of antileukemic therapies. Bone
marrow angiogenesis is frequently increased in AML, is morphologically evidenced as increased microvascular
density, and is typically associated with some AML subtypes. The molecular mechanisms underlying the increased
angiogenesis in some AML subtypes have been defined. In conclusion, a better understanding of angiogenesis
as well as the fundamental interactions between bone marrow endothelial cells and leukemic stem cells may
contribute to improve antileukemia treatments.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia, angiogenesis, microvascular density, vascular niche, endothelial cells,
endothelial growth factors

INTRODUCTION
Angiogenesis is a fundamental and vital process required for the generation of a functional vasculature
[1]
essential for tissue and whole organism survival . Blood vessels are not only simple conduits required to
© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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