Tumor endothelial cells have features of adult stem cells

We recently reported that prostate tumor-specific endothelial cells had features of mesenchymal stem cells and could trans-differentiate to form cartilage and bone-like tissues. Plasticity in the tumor vasculature may be related to well-known tumor blood vessel abnormalities and could underlie an intrinsic adaptive mechanism in tumor endothelial cells for circumventing anti-angiogenic strategies.