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Tumors have developed a variety of mechanisms to avoid immune responses. One of these mechanisms involves the inhibition of dendritic cells, which are antigen-presenting cells that stimulate B cells and T cells. Recently, it has been demonstrated in vitro that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can prevent the functional maturation of dendritic cells from their hematopoietic progenitors. Tumor secretion of VEGF may play an important role in suppressing the immune antitumoral response.58,59
The effects of tumoral expression of VEGF are currently being investigated in dendritic cells and hematopoietic stem cells.
