Table 1.

Distinctive features/markers between vasculogenic mimicry and angiogenesis.

Vasculogenic Mimicry	Angiogenesis	References
Formation of vascular channels from cancer stem cells (tumor cells).	Development of new blood vessels and capillaries from pre-existing ones.	[1,12]
Patterned networks of interconnected loops and cords formation	Formation by sprouting or intussusception	[1,7]
Formed by tumor cells and cancer stem cells	Formed by endothelial cells	[7]
Aberrant expression of VE-Cadherin	VE-Cadherin localization in cell membranes	[13]
PAS+, CD31−/low staining	PAS−/low, CD31+ staining	[7]
Factor VIII-related antigen negative or low	Factor VIII-related antigen highly positive	[7]
Unaffected by endostatin and other antiangiogenic factors	Inhibited by antiangiogenic factors	[14,15]
EPHA2, TIE1, LAMC2, overexpression	EPHA2, TIE1, LAMC2 generally negative.	[16]
Express stemness markers, e.g., CD133, ALDH1	CD133 positivity mostly in endothelial precursor cells	[17,18,19,20]
More abundant in poorly differentiated tumors, such as HER2+ and TNBC	Present in embryogenesis, wound healing and tumor growth	[16,21]