TY - JOUR T1 - Angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms and anti-angiogenic therapies JF - Cancer Biology & Medicine JO - Cancer Biology & Medicine SP - 25 LP - 43 DO - 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2022.0449 VL - 20 IS - 1 AU - Changyu Yao AU - Shilun Wu AU - Jian Kong AU - Yiwen Sun AU - Yannan Bai AU - Ruhang Zhu AU - Zhuxin Li AU - Wenbing Sun AU - Lemin Zheng Y1 - 2023/01/15 UR - http://www.cancerbiomed.org/content/20/1/25.abstract N2 - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Angiogenesis, the process of formation of new blood vessels, is required for cancer cells to obtain nutrients and oxygen. HCC is a typical hypervascular solid tumor with an aberrant vascular network and angiogenesis that contribute to its growth, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Current anti-angiogenic therapies target mainly tyrosine kinases, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and are considered effective strategies for HCC, particularly advanced HCC. However, because the survival benefits conferred by these anti-angiogenic therapies are modest, new anti-angiogenic targets must be identified. Several recent studies have determined the underlying molecular mechanisms, including pro-angiogenic factors secreted by HCC cells, the tumor microenvironment, and cancer stem cells. In this review, we summarize the roles of pro-angiogenic factors; the involvement of endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and tumor-associated neutrophils present in the tumor microenvironment; and the regulatory influence of cancer stem cells on angiogenesis in HCC. Furthermore, we discuss some of the clinically approved anti-angiogenic therapies and potential novel therapeutic targets for angiogenesis in HCC. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying angiogenesis may lead to the development of more optimized anti-angiogenic treatment modalities for HCC. ER -