Click on the image or the + sign to view larger image		Blood vessel embedded in and feeding a hungry tumour We all love to eat! The same is true for tumours. In a process known as angiogenesis thousands of tiny blood vessels are lured towards and invade a tumour, delivering food and nutrients to it. This colour-enhanced scanning electron micrograph depicts the inside of a single blood vessel embedded in and feeding a hungry tumour. The blood vessel is lined with a soft quilt of specialized cells called endothelial cells. The round cells within the vessel are red blood cells that carry oxygen to the tumour allowing it to breathe. A small number of white blood cells are also visible (in yellow). These types of blood vessels are the tumours lifeline. New anti-cancer research is underway to create drugs that will stop innocent blood vessels from growing into tumours. Hopefully these drugs will be used to starve tumours of their feasts, break the lifeline and eventually kill the tumour. Credit: Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke and Mick Stone