The control of tumor vessels: what you would not expect from a neural adhesion molecule

The neural adhesion molecule L1 is involved in development and plasticity of the nervous system. We recently reported aberrant expression of L1 in the vasculature of various human tumor types. Genetic and functional inactivation of endothelial L1 in a mouse tumor model resulted in decreased tumor angiogenesis and promoted vascular normalization. Thus, endothelial L1 might represent a novel therapeutic target for vessel-targeted treatments of solid tumors.