The contribution of vascular basement membranes and extracellular matrix to the mechanics of tumor angiogenesis

The goal of this review is to highlight the contribution of extracellular matrix and vascular basement membranes to the regulation of angiogenesis and tumor progression. Here we present a new concept that vascular basement membrane influences endothelial cells and possibly other cell types in a solid state assembled form, and also in a degraded solution state form. Depending on the structural integrity, composition and exposure of cryptic sites, the vascular basement membrane proteome exerts functional influences on proliferating and resting endothelial cells. This review provides the reader with an appreciation of this newly evolved concept in the area of vascular biology.