Figure 2.

TEC characteristics identified to date. Various characteristics of TECs have been observed, which make them unique when compared with endothelial cells in normal blood vessels. These range from the genetic composition and expression of genes, abnormal karyotype, higher biological activities (proliferation and motility), and TEC influence on tumor cells to modulate cancer cell metastasis and survival to modifications in their metabolic signature. TECs are not normal and their abnormality creates a targetable avenue to influence the growth of tumors and improve therapeutics in cancer treatment. TEC, tumor endothelial cells