Transendothelial function of human metastatic melanoma cells: role of the microenvironment in cell-fate determination.
On the basis of the ability of aggressive melanoma cells to participate in vasculogenic mimicry, particularly their expression of endothelial-associated genes, we examined the plasticity of human metastatic cutaneous melanoma cells with respect to vascular function. Fluorescently labeled metastatic melanoma cells were challenged to an ischemic microenvironment surgically induced in the hind limbs of nude mice. The data reveal the capability of these melanoma cells to express cell-fate determination molecules, normally expressed during embryonic vasculogenesis, and to participate in the neovascularization of circulation-deficient muscle. These results demonstrate the powerful influence of the microenvironment on the transendothelial differentiation of aggressive melanoma cells, and may provide new perspectives on tumor cell plasticity that could be exploited for novel therapeutic strategies.
Hendrix
Mary J C
MJ
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, 51 Newton Road, 1-100 BSB, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. mary-hendrix@uiowa.edu
Seftor
Richard E B
RE
Seftor
Elisabeth A
EA
Gruman
Lynn M
LM
Lee
Lisa M L
LM
Nickoloff
Brian J
BJ
Miele
Lucio
L
Sheriff
Don D
DD
Schatteman
Gina C
GC
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous