The Microcirculation of Aggressive Cancers: A Heterogeneous System
Tumors incorporate pre-existing host vessels. This observation, made in a variety of tumor systems, also applied to uveal melanomas: more than 90% of uveal melanomas contain pre-existing stromal vessels.
Suggested References:
Thompson WD, et al. Tumours acquire their vaculature by vessel incorporation, not vessel ingrowth. J Pathol 1987;151:323-332.
Skinner SA, et al. Microvascular architecture of experimental colon tumors in the rat. Cancer Res 1990;50:2411-2417.
Folberg R, et al. The prognostic value of tumor blood vessel morphology in primary uveal melanoma. Ophthalmology 1993;100:1389-1398.
Rummelt V, et al. Microcirculation architecture of melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas of the ciliary body and choroid. A comparative histopathologic and ultrastructural study. Ophthalmology 1994;101:718-727.
Aggressive tumors may contain mosaic vessels, vessels lined by both endothelial cells and tumor cells. Mosaic vessels have been identified in uveal melanomas.
Suggested References:
Chang YS, Mosaic blood vessels in tumor: frequency of cancer cells in contact with flowing blood. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2000;97:14608-14613.
Chen X, et al. Uveal melanoma cell staining for CD34 and assessment of tumor vascularity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002;43:2533-2539.
The microcirculation of tumors may be heterogeneous, containing incorporated vessels, mosaic vessels, and angiogenic vessels. In addition, tumors may be perfused through a "fluid-conducing meshwork" - extravascular matrix patterns. The microcirculation of uveal melanomas is composed of these different perfusion elements.
Suggested Reference: Chen X, et al. Uveal melanoma cell staining for CD34 and assessment of tumor vascularity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002;43:2533-2539.