Molecular biology of breast cancer metastasis. Molecular expression of vascular markers by aggressive breast cancer cells.
During embryogenesis, the formation of primary vascular networks occurs via the processes of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. In uveal melanoma, vasculogenic mimicry describes the 'embryonic-like' ability of aggressive, but not nonaggressive, tumor cells to form networks surrounding spheroids of tumor cells in three-dimensional culture; these recapitulate the patterned networks seen in patients' aggressive tumors and correlates with poor prognosis. The molecular profile of these aggressive tumor cells suggests that they have a deregulated genotype, capable of expressing vascular phenotypes. Similarly, the embryonic-like phenotype expressed by the aggressive human breast cancer cells is associated with their ability to express a variety of vascular markers. These studies may offer new insights for consideration in breast cancer diagnosis and therapeutic intervention strategies.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa Cancer Center, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. mary-hendrix@uiowa.edu
M J
MJ
Hendrix
E A
EA
Seftor
D A
DA
Kirschmann
R E
RE
Seftor
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000166:cytology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins