title: Hypothesis: the metastatic niche theory can elucidate infantile hemangioma development.
abstract: Recent advances in the understanding of the metastatic phenomenon in cancer have led to the description of a metastatic niche. This concept describes a site prepared for the tumor cells in areas frequently associated with metastasis for the individual tumor studied. This niche is a "soil" that allows for the tumor cell or "seed" to lodge and grow. Certain aspects of the biology of infantile hemangioma cells suggest a relationship to the placenta as a possible site of origin for the hemangioma precursor cells. In this article, a relationship between the placenta, with or without a chorangioma and the hemangioma sites of localization, is hypothesized. The placenta is suggested as the site of humoral factors that prepare a niche similar to the function of malignant tumor cells. If the hypothesis proves to be valid, clues for possible treatment are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114-2696, USA. Mihm.martin@mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Martin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mihm
authors.forename: J Stuart
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D006391:Hemangioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*