Unveiling the immunomodulatory dance: endothelial cells’ function and their role in non-small cell lung cancer

Sophia Daum; Lilith Decristoforo; Mira Mousa; Stefan Salcher; Christina Plattner; Baharak Hosseinkhani; Zlatko Trajanoski; Dominik Wolf; Peter Carmeliet; Andreas Pircher

doi:10.1186/s12943-024-02221-6

Unveiling the immunomodulatory dance: endothelial cells’ function and their role in non-small cell lung cancer

Sophia Daum
, Lilith Decristoforo
, Mira Mousa
, Stefan Salcher
, Christina Plattner
, Baharak Hosseinkhani
, Zlatko Trajanoski
, Dominik Wolf
, Peter Carmeliet
, Andreas Pircher

Leopold-Franzens-Universität
VIB Center for Cancer Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dynamic interactions between tumor endothelial cells (TECs) and the immune microenvironment play a critical role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In general, endothelial cells exhibit diverse immunomodulatory properties, influencing immune cell recruitment, antigen presentation, and regulation of immune checkpoint expression. Understanding the multifaceted roles of TECs as well as assigning specific functional hallmarks to various TEC phenotypes offer new avenues for targeted development of therapeutic interventions, particularly in the context of advanced immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic treatments. This review provides insights into the complex interplay between TECs and the immune system in NSCLC including discussion of potential optimized therapeutic opportunities.

Original language	British English
Article number	21
Journal	Molecular Cancer
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-024-02221-6
State	Published - Dec 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Angiogenesis
Cancer
Endothelium
Immune response
Lung
NSCLC
TEC
Therapy
TME
Vessel

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10.1186/s12943-024-02221-6

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title = "Unveiling the immunomodulatory dance: endothelial cells{\textquoteright} function and their role in non-small cell lung cancer",

abstract = "The dynamic interactions between tumor endothelial cells (TECs) and the immune microenvironment play a critical role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In general, endothelial cells exhibit diverse immunomodulatory properties, influencing immune cell recruitment, antigen presentation, and regulation of immune checkpoint expression. Understanding the multifaceted roles of TECs as well as assigning specific functional hallmarks to various TEC phenotypes offer new avenues for targeted development of therapeutic interventions, particularly in the context of advanced immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic treatments. This review provides insights into the complex interplay between TECs and the immune system in NSCLC including discussion of potential optimized therapeutic opportunities.",

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AU - Daum, Sophia

AU - Decristoforo, Lilith

AU - Mousa, Mira

AU - Salcher, Stefan

AU - Plattner, Christina

AU - Hosseinkhani, Baharak

AU - Trajanoski, Zlatko

AU - Wolf, Dominik

AU - Carmeliet, Peter

AU - Pircher, Andreas

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - The dynamic interactions between tumor endothelial cells (TECs) and the immune microenvironment play a critical role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In general, endothelial cells exhibit diverse immunomodulatory properties, influencing immune cell recruitment, antigen presentation, and regulation of immune checkpoint expression. Understanding the multifaceted roles of TECs as well as assigning specific functional hallmarks to various TEC phenotypes offer new avenues for targeted development of therapeutic interventions, particularly in the context of advanced immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic treatments. This review provides insights into the complex interplay between TECs and the immune system in NSCLC including discussion of potential optimized therapeutic opportunities.

AB - The dynamic interactions between tumor endothelial cells (TECs) and the immune microenvironment play a critical role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In general, endothelial cells exhibit diverse immunomodulatory properties, influencing immune cell recruitment, antigen presentation, and regulation of immune checkpoint expression. Understanding the multifaceted roles of TECs as well as assigning specific functional hallmarks to various TEC phenotypes offer new avenues for targeted development of therapeutic interventions, particularly in the context of advanced immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic treatments. This review provides insights into the complex interplay between TECs and the immune system in NSCLC including discussion of potential optimized therapeutic opportunities.

KW - Angiogenesis

KW - Cancer

KW - Endothelium

KW - Immune response

KW - Lung

KW - NSCLC

KW - TEC

KW - Therapy

KW - TME

KW - Vessel

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85216049953

U2 - 10.1186/s12943-024-02221-6

DO - 10.1186/s12943-024-02221-6

M3 - Review article

C2 - 39819502

AN - SCOPUS:85216049953

SN - 1476-4598

VL - 24

JO - Molecular Cancer

JF - Molecular Cancer

IS - 1

M1 - 21

ER -

Unveiling the immunomodulatory dance: endothelial cells’ function and their role in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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