[Research progress in vasculogenic mimicry in multiple tumors].

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a brand-new tumor vascular pattern with the ability to form vessel-like networks without participation of endothelial cells and independent on angiogenesis. It can provide adequate blood supply for tumor growth. The formation of VM involves multiple molecule mechanisms and signal pathways, including cancer stem cell and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. As a unique blood-supply pattern, VM is associated with cancer invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis. Because of its important role in cancer progression, VM will become a new target for therapy of cancers.