Description
Pericytes are integral components of the tissue vasculature and have essential functions in tumour angiogenesis. Endosialin (CD248) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed on pericytes in the tumour vasculature of most solid tumours, however it is low or negligibly expressed on normal tissue pericytes. Experiments using wild-type and endosialin-knockout mice has revealed that stromal endosialin expression facilitates intravasation of tumor cells from the primary tumor into the circulation, thereby promoting metastatic dissemination.