Endothelial progenitor cells may participate in stress-induced tumour angiogenesis

Abstract Epidemiological and animal studies have suggested that chronic stress promotes tumourigenesis by promoting tumour angiogenesis. However, underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a group of bone marrow–derived cells that have an important function in neovascularisation of various tumour growths. In this study, chronic stress was hypothesised to increase tumour angiogenesis via sympathetic neurotransmitter-induced activation of EPCs through α1 adrenoreceptor (AR)-extracellular regulated protein kinases and β2 AR-endothelial nitric oxide synthase signal pathways. This hypothesis should be tested in several clinical and animal studies. Results may have implications on the development of new anti-tumour drugs.