Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in Medulloblastoma Development

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The therapeutic strategy against medulloblastoma (MB) is based on accurate diagnosis of the pathology, monitoring after surgery, treatment of advanced forms and adaptation of treatment in the event of recurrence. The aim is to propose effective therapies at diagnosis, to adapt first-line treatments according to the severity of the disease and to offer equally effective treatments in the event of a relapse. MB current therapeutic regimens are heavy and lead to severe disabilities (paralysis, speech impairment, etc.). Identifying the severity of MB at the time of diagnosis can reduce the intensity of treatment and limit its disabling effects. MB recurrences (about 30% of patients) result in MB metastasis and are usually fatal. Blood vessels, as well as lymphatic vessels seem to be key players in MB progression and metastasis. Knowing the parameters and the molecular agents responsible for this pejorative evolution could lessen or even eliminate the fatal problems. ABSTRACT: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most prevalent brain tumor in children. Although the current cure rate stands at approximately 70%, the existing treatments that involve a combination of radio- and chemotherapy are highly detrimental to the patients’ quality of life. These aggressive therapies often result in a significant reduction in the overall well-being of the patients. Moreover, the most aggressive forms of MB frequently relapse, leading to a fatal outcome in a majority of cases. However, MB is highly vascularized, and both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are believed to play crucial roles in tumor development and spread. In this context, our objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research progress in elucidating the functions of these two pathways.