Murine breast cancer feed arteries are thin-walled with reduced α1A-adrenoceptor expression and attenuated sympathetic vasocontraction.

Thinner media and lower α1-adrenoceptor expression weaken contractions of breast cancer feed arteries in response to sympathetic activity. We propose that abnormalities in breast cancer arteries can be exploited to modify tumor perfusion and thereby either starve cancer cells or facilitate drug and oxygen delivery during chemotherapy or radiotherapy.