Endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide II, a tumor-derived cytokine that plays an important role in inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis

The interactions between a tumor and its surrounding environment are comple x and characterized by a variety of factors. Tumors produce a number of pro teins that enable them to recruit a vascular supply, invade into surroundin g tissues, and metastasize to distant sites. The host, in turn, responds to these signals by producing its own repertoire of molecules that may either assist or prevent the actions of the tumor. A thorough understanding of th is relationship is critical to the development of novel anti-cancer therapi es. The turner-derived cytokine endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide II (EMAP-II) has profound effects, on the tumor as well as on host respons e. These effects target the inflammatory cascade as well as the processes i nvolved in angiogenesis, In this review the authors describe the current un derstanding of the role of EMAP-II in inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogen esis and use this molecule to illustrate the complex interactions that occu r in the tumor microenvironment.