Loss of angulin-1/LSR promotes vasculogenic mimicry and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a process by which tumor cells form vessel-like network to secure oxygen and nutrients essential for tumor growth. Intercellular junctions, including tight junctions, may play a critical role in this process, important for VM. Here, we investigated the role of angulin-1/LSR (Ang-1), a key component of tricellular tight junctions, in VM regulation. We performed VM assay using Ang-1 KO breast cancer cells. Compared with control cells, Ang-1/KO cells exhibited significantly enhanced VM formation, accompanied by increasing epithelial-mesenchymal transition features. In a xenograft model, tumors derived from Ang-1/KO cells showed increased mass and elevated VM ratios. Re-expression of Ang-1 isoforms 3, 4, or 6-2 in Ang-1/KO cells suppressed VM formation, whereas iso

SUBMITTER: Yoshioka Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12493129 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature