Impact of VEGF expression on the physiological characteristics of clonal cell lines.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis and growth in most solid neoplasia.


METHODS
Clonal tumor cell lines expressing varying levels of this pro-angiogenic factor were created via recombinant adeno-associated virus infection of a human (HT29) and rodent (SCCVII) tumor model.


RESULTS
The alteration in VEGF expression levels did not significantly impact the in vitro growth rate of the clonal cell lines or the expression levels of other known pro-angiogenic factors. However, the tumors that arose from these clonal cell lines did display significant physiological differences. Upregulation of VEGF expression increased the in vivo growth rate and the intratumoral vessel density of the resulting tumors and decreased the extent of tumor necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the tumor vascular network can impact the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies, these results suggest that VEGF expression may be important to consider in the treatment of cancer.
Norris
Christina M
CM
Department of Radiation Oncology, Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
Shi
Wenyin
W
Siemann
Dietmar W
DW
D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002999:Clone Cells; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D042682:Angiopoietins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2