A review published in Cellular Oncology argues that tumor blood vessels are not passive conduits but active immune-regulatory structures that shape immune-cell states in the tumor microenvironment. The authors synthesize multi-omic evidence—single-cell, spatial, and functional studies—into a framework describing three linked dimensions: angiocrine education, metabolic exclusion, and structural barricading. In this model, endothelial and vascular niche signals push infiltrating immune cells toward immunosuppressive phenotypes, while abnormal tumor vessels create lactate- and acidosis-linked metabolic conditions that impair immune fitness. The vascular architecture—pericyte loss, abnormal branching, and vasculogenic mimicry—can physically limit immune trafficking. The synthesis proposes a self-reinforcing vascular–immune circuit and points to spatial heterogeneity as a key variable for interpreting immune suppression. For translational oncology, the review supports a rationale for targeting vascular-immune circuits rather than only blocking angiogenesis.
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