Comparison of the microvasculature of basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis using intravital microscopy and immunohistochemistry.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for growth of invasive tumours. We hypothesized that angiogenesis would be present in invasive basal cell carcinoma (BCC) but not in a noninvasive tumour such as actinic keratosis (AK).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate both types of tumour for evidence of angiogenesis.


METHODS
Patients with BCC or AK underwent intravital videocapillaroscopy. Three regions were examined: the tumour, perilesional skin and a control site. Microvessel width, area fraction and length density were determined from capillaroscopy images. Biopsies were stained for CD34 and a microvessel count was performed.


RESULTS
Capillaroscopy demonstrated a grossly disorganized tumour microcirculation in BCC. Compared with control skin, microvessel width was increased 2.4-fold, area fraction was increased 4.9-fold and length density was increased 5.9-fold. In AK, microvessel width was increased 1.7-fold, area fraction 2.5-fold and length density 3.4-fold. Vessel width and area fraction were significantly greater in BCC than AK. Biopsies showed significant increases in microvessel length density for both BCC and AK compared with control skin, with BCC significantly greater than AK.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiogenesis was demonstrated in BCC in humans in vivo, and to a lesser extent in AK.
Newell
B
B
Division of Physiological Medicine (Dermatology), St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
Bedlow
A J
AJ
Cliff
S
S
Drysdale
S B
SB
Stanton
A W B
AW
Mortimer
P S
PS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects