Pericytes in hematogenous metastasis: mechanistic insights and therapeutic approaches
Shuo Xu, Hong Zhang, Yu Tian
Abstract
Metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, underscores the critical need to understand its regulatory mechanisms to improve prevention and treatment strategies for late-stage tumors. Hematogenous dissemination is a key route of metastasis. However, as the gatekeeper of vessels, the role of pericytes in hematogenous metastasis remains largely unknown. In this review, we comprehensively explore the contributions of pericytes throughout the metastatic cascade, particularly their functions that extend beyond influencing tumor angiogenesis. Pericytes should not be perceived as passive bystanders, but rather as active participants in various stages of the metastatic cascade. Pericytes-targeted therapy may provide novel insights for preventing and treating advanced-stage tumor. This review comprehensively delineated the functional contributions of pericytes throughout the metastatic cascade. Pericyte-mediated vascular leakage and stabilisation may coexist in dynamic equilibrium during tumor metastasis. Pericyte-related cellular plasticity is closely associated with metastatic dissemination. Pericytes remodel the perivascular matrix to promote metastatic dissemination. Crosstalk between pericytes and the tumor microenvironment regulates metastasis.