Atlas of blood vessels to help fight cancers

Study by Chinese researchers offers new insights into tumor therapies

A Chinese research team has published a groundbreaking study in Nature, creating the world's most comprehensive map of blood vessel networks for various cancers. This advancement holds promise for earlier cancer detection, improved drug development and personalized treatment strategies.

Led by Yin Mingzhu, vice-president of Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, the team included scientists from prestigious institutions like Tsinghua University and Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Their study, titled "Tumor Vasculature at Single-Cell Resolution," sheds light on the intricate process of tumor angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels — paving the way for more effective anti-angiogenic therapies in clinical practice.

Angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth and survival. By disrupting this process, anti-angiogenic therapies aim to starve tumors, potentially hindering their development or even shrinking them. Blood vessels act as a delivery system, supplying nutrients that allow tumor cells to multiply and spread.