Table 1.
The role of different molecular in inducing lymphangiogenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
| Growth factors and chemokines/cytokines | Member/receptor | Specific mechanism in lymphangiogenesis | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) | VEGF-A | Targeting with VEGFR-2 and enhancing lymphangiogenesis | (26) |
| VEGF-C | Targeting with VEGFR-3 and enhancing lymphangiogenesis | (27) | |
| VEGF-D | Targeting with VEGFR-3 and enhancing lymphangiogenesis | (28) | |
| Periostin | Integrin-αvβ3 | Periostin itself as well as periostin-induced upregulation of VEGF-C promote lymphangiogenesis | (27) |
| Angiopoietins | Ang-1 | Inducing high levels of VEGFR-3 and enhances effectiveness of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in lymphangiogenesis | (29) |
| Ang-2 | Specific association with lymphangiogenesis in HNSCC is not clear so far | (30) | |
| Laminin γ2 | Integrin-α3 | Regulates integrin-α3-dependent EVs uptake | (31) |
| Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1/2 | IGF-1R | Inducing lymphangiogenesis stimulating phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Akt, and Src | (28) |