Vessel co-option is an alternative strategy by which tumour cells vascularize and gain access to nutrients to support tumour growth, survival and metastasis. In vessel co-option, the cancer cells move towards the pre-existing vasculature and hijack them. Vessel co-option is adopted by a wide range of human tumours including colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) and is responsible for the effectiveness of treatment in CRCLM. Furthermore, vessel co-option is an intrinsic feature and an acquired mechanism of resistance to anti-angiogenic treatment. In this review, we describe the microenvironment, the molecular players, discovered thus far of co-opting CRCLM lesions and propose a theoretical model. We also highlight key unanswered questions that are critical to improving our understanding of CRCLM vessel co-option and for the development of effective approaches for the treatment of co-opting tumours.

血管联合选择是一种替代策略，肿瘤细胞通过该策略血管化并获得营养以支持肿瘤生长、存活和转移。在血管共同选择中，癌细胞向预先存在的脉管系统移动并劫持它们。血管联合选择被广泛的人类肿瘤采用，包括结直肠癌肝转移（CRCLM），并负责治疗 CRCLM 的有效性。此外，血管共同选择是抗血管生成治疗的内在特征和获得性机制。在这篇综述中，我们描述了迄今为止发现的增加 CRCLM 病变的微环境和分子参与者，并提出了一个理论模型。