ANGIOGENESIS AS A MORPHOLOGICAL MARKER OF TUMOR GROWTH: AN ANALYSIS OF CURRENT LITERATURE DATA

Анотація

Introduction. The issue of tumor growth remains one of the most pressing challenges in contemporary biomedical science due to the high prevalence of oncological diseases and the complexity of their pathogenesis. Angiogenesis ensures tumor vascularization, oxygen and nutrient supply, and contributes to invasion and metastasis, while its morphological manifestations are used to assess tumor progression and prognosis.

The aim of study was to analyze and summarize current literature data on angiogenesis as a morphological marker of tumor growth.

Results. Analysis of recent publications shows that tumor angiogenesis occurs through classical formation of new blood vessels (sprouting) as well as alternative mechanisms such as vessel co-option and vasculogenesis. VEGF plays a central role, with its activity correlating with increased microvascular density and poor prognosis. Perivascular spaces, cells of the tumor microenvironment, and tumor-associated macrophages play important regulatory roles, stimulating the formation of pathological vascular networks and increasing tumor invasiveness. Metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., m6A RNA modifications) additionally influence the intensity of angiogenesis, as well as the structure and architecture of the tumor vascular network, allowing assessment of its growth dynamics, degree of aggressiveness, and morphological changes.

Conclusions. Angiogenesis is a universal and multifaceted morphological marker of tumor growth, reflecting the integration of molecular, cellular, and tissue-level processes. Further research should focus on understanding these mechanisms in greater detail to improve tumor characterization and prognostic assessment.

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