Figure 2.

Pericyte coverage of intratumoral vessels affects vascular function and nanoparticle extravasation. Intratumoral vessels with varying levels of pericyte coverage show different profiles regarding nanoparticle extravasation: pancreatic cancer vessels have abundant pericyte coverage. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) inhibition reduces pericyte coverage and results in increased nanoparticle leakage possibly as a result of augmented enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Colon cancer, characterized by vessels with little pericyte coverage, is shown for comparison. Unlike pancreatic cancer, the optimal strategy to increase nanoparticle extravasation is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition. This increases perfusion by normalization of the vasculature