Twist1 promotes astrocytoma development by stimulating vasculogenic mimicry.

Astrocytomas are one of the most vascularized types tumor in human cancers. Micro-vascular proliferation is an important factor for the classification of astrocytoma. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a novel tumor vascular model that develops independently of endothelial cells, and serves an important role in astrocytoma. Twist family bHLH transcription factor 1 (Twist1) is able to regulate the formation of VM; thus in the present study, the expression and importance of Twist1 was studied in astrocytoma tissues. The present study confirmed that the expression of Twist1 was associated with the grade of astrocytoma. Twist1 promotes the formation of VM and the development of astrocytomas, and may also regulate the formation of VM via vascular endothelial-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase-9.