Lymphangiogenesis and cancer metastasis.

Lymphatic vessels are important for the spread of solid tumours, but the mechanisms that underlie lymphatic spread and the role of lymphangiogenesis (the growth of lymphatics) in tumour metastasis has been less clear. This article reviews recent experimental and clinico-pathological data indicating that growth factors that stimulate lymphangiogenesis in tumours are associated with an enhanced metastatic process.