Periostin directly and indirectly promotes tumor lymphangiogenesis of head and neck cancer.
BackgroundMetastasis to regional lymph nodes via lymphatic vessels plays a key role in cancer progression.Tumor lymphangiogenesis is known to promote lymphatic metastasis, and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) is a critical activator of tumor lymphangiogenesis during the process of metastasis.We previously identified periostin as an inv