The role of vasculo- and angiogenesis in embryonic and fetal development. A short review

The investigation of the mechanisms regulating the development of new vesse ls is crucial to our understanding of both tumor biology and the early deve lopment of pregnancy. There are striking similarities between tumor invasio n and vascularization on the one hand and blastocyst implantation and place ntal development on the other. Both sets of events share two important feat ures: migration and invasion through the extracellular matrix and the abili ty to access the host vascular system and recruit blood supply. Despite these common features, at least two major differences occur. First, invasion and new vessel formation during pregnancy is self-limited compare d to the uncontrolled tumor growth and vessel formation during oncogenesis. Second, the implanting embryo not only accesses the maternal vascular syst em, but also forms its own vascular system. Our understanding of the different molecular and functional aspects of thes e two processes, in particular the self-limitation of trophoblastic invasio n and vessel formation during gestation, might allow the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of both tumors and tumor and preg nancy related pathology. This short review provides a general overview of the recent work on vascula r development during early pregnancy and its role in the pathogenesis of pr egnancy related disorders.