It has been generally accepted that angiogenesis is involved in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies, like acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms and multiple myeloma. The extent of angiogenesis in the bone marrow has been correlated with disease burden, prognosis and treatment outcome. Reciprocal positive and negative interactions between tumor cells and bone marrow stromal cells, namely hematopoietic stem cells, fibroblasts, osteoblasts/osteoclasts, endothelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells, T cells, macrophages and mast cells, mediated by an array of cytokines, receptors and adhesion molecules, modulate the angiogenic response in hematological tumors. More recently, it has been emphasized the pro-angiogenic role of the so called "vascular niche", indicating a site rich in blood vessels where endothelial cells and mural cells such as pericytes and smooth muscle cells create a microenvironment that affects the behavior of several stem and progenitor cells, in hematological malignancies.

From the reviews:

"This book will appeal mainly to researchers in the field of angiogenesis/antiangiogenesis, and students. ? This is a comprehensive book on an important area of cancer research that is often overshadowed by literature on solid tumors. It will be most helpful for researchers looking for information on the subject, but it also enlightens practitioners on the mechanisms of action of some common treatments for hematological malignancies." (Leslie Popplewell, Doody's Book Reviews, June, 2014)