As positively correlated with VCAM1 gene expression in each tumor type. Shown is the Pearson correlation coefficient. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046104.gcancers, and none of which were derived from tumor-associated endothelial cells. Endothelial cells play an active role in a number of inflammatory functions that lead to increased blood flow, vascular leakage of plasma proteins, and leukocyte recruitment. Many 
successful therapies targeting chronic inflammation directly alter endothelial gene expression [4]. Specific examples include TNF-a inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease and statins in cardiovascular disease [4]. There is an increasing body of evidence that many malignancies are linked to diseases of chronic inflammation. One mechanism by which this occurs is through Table 1. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression of overall ML-240 site survival by IREG (+) status in training and testing cohorts.Training Set Cancer Breast Colon Glioma LungTesting SetHR1.90 1.82 2.23 1.95 CI1.06?.54 1.06?.18 1.32?.83 1.06?.P-value0.032 0.030 0.0025 0.HR3.21 2.72 2.12 1.95 
CI1.54?.31 1.41?.51 1.06?.38 1.00?.P-value0.0015 0.0027 0.034 0.Hazard ratio = HR. Confidence interval = CI. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046104.tthe induction and accumulation of DNA damage in proliferating cells by infiltrating inflammatory cells at sites of persistent inflammation. These changes lead to permanent genomic alterations that ultimately promote malignant transformation [2]. The strongest link between chronic inflammation and malignant disease is in colon carcinogenesis arising in individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases. While it is known that inflammatory pathways in other stromal cells also contribute to tumor growth [2], our results suggest that tumor-associated endothelial inflammation is an important determinant in tumor progression. In support of our findings, emerging evidence demonstrates that endothelial cell-derived signals, including inflammatory mediators, directly regulate tumor progression through “angiocrine” mechanisms independent of angiogenesis [27]. Nevertheless, BI 78D3 manufacturer Further studies are needed to characterize the mechanisms by which inflamed tumor endothelial cells promote tumor growth. Our findings differ from many empirically derived gene signatures in that we identified a molecular predictor of survival in patients with diverse human cancers based on an experimental model of tumor endothelial inflammation, which may prove useful biologically and clinically. Further prospective evaluation of the six-gene signature using RT-PCR may result in an accurate and reproducible prediction tool that may aid in clinical decision making across numerous human cancers. From a therapeutic perspective, the selective inhibition of endothelial-derived inflammatory factors, without disturbing the integrity of the blood vessels, might still block tumor growth and thereby avoid potential toxic side effects to the normal vasculature [6,7]. Even more, it isTumor Endothelial Inflammation in Cancer PrognosisTable 2. Comparison of patient characteristics by IREG signature expression.known that angiogenic activity does not necessarily correlate with tumor prognosis [7]. Further investigation into the effect of endothelial inflammation on tumor growth could provide new targets for therapy in multiple human cancers.IREG(+) Breast cancer Age (years) ,40 40 Tumor size ,T2 T2 Lymph nodes Uninvolved Involved ER expression Negative Positive Tumor grade.As positively correlated with VCAM1 gene expression in each tumor type. Shown is the Pearson correlation coefficient. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046104.gcancers, and none of which were derived from tumor-associated endothelial cells. Endothelial cells play an active role in a number of inflammatory functions that lead to increased blood flow, vascular leakage of plasma proteins, and leukocyte recruitment. Many successful therapies targeting chronic inflammation directly alter endothelial gene expression [4]. Specific examples include TNF-a inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease and statins in cardiovascular disease [4]. There is an increasing body of evidence that many malignancies are linked to diseases of chronic inflammation. One mechanism by which this occurs is through Table 1. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression of overall survival by IREG (+) status in training and testing cohorts.Training Set Cancer Breast Colon Glioma LungTesting SetHR1.90 1.82 2.23 1.95 CI1.06?.54 1.06?.18 1.32?.83 1.06?.P-value0.032 0.030 0.0025 0.HR3.21 2.72 2.12 1.95 CI1.54?.31 1.41?.51 1.06?.38 1.00?.P-value0.0015 0.0027 0.034 0.Hazard ratio = HR. Confidence interval = CI. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046104.tthe induction and accumulation of DNA damage in proliferating cells by infiltrating inflammatory cells at sites of persistent inflammation. These changes lead to permanent genomic alterations that ultimately promote malignant transformation [2]. The strongest link between chronic inflammation and malignant disease is in colon carcinogenesis arising in individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases. While it is known that inflammatory pathways in other stromal cells also contribute to tumor growth [2], our results suggest that tumor-associated endothelial inflammation is an important determinant in tumor progression. In support of our findings, emerging evidence demonstrates that endothelial cell-derived signals, including inflammatory mediators, directly regulate tumor progression through “angiocrine” mechanisms independent of angiogenesis [27]. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to characterize the mechanisms by which inflamed tumor endothelial cells promote tumor growth. Our findings differ from many empirically derived gene signatures in that we identified a molecular predictor of survival in patients with diverse human cancers based on an experimental model of tumor endothelial inflammation, which may prove useful biologically and clinically. Further prospective evaluation of the six-gene signature using RT-PCR may result in an accurate and reproducible prediction tool that may aid in clinical decision making across numerous human cancers. From a therapeutic perspective, the selective inhibition of endothelial-derived inflammatory factors, without disturbing the integrity of the blood vessels, might still block tumor growth and thereby avoid potential toxic side effects to the normal vasculature [6,7]. Even more, it isTumor Endothelial Inflammation in Cancer PrognosisTable 2. Comparison of patient characteristics by IREG signature expression.known that angiogenic activity does not necessarily correlate with tumor prognosis [7]. Further investigation into the effect of endothelial inflammation on tumor growth could provide new targets for therapy in multiple human cancers.IREG(+) Breast cancer Age (years) ,40 40 Tumor size ,T2 T2 Lymph nodes Uninvolved Involved ER expression Negative Positive Tumor grade.
