title: Blood vessel normalization in the hamster oral cancer model for experimental cancer therapy studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Normalization of tumor blood vessels improves drug and oxygen delivery to cancer cells. The aim of this study was to develop a technique to normalize blood vessels in the hamster cheek pouch model of oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor-bearing hamsters were treated with thalidomide and were compared with controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty eight hours after treatment with thalidomide, the blood vessels of premalignant tissue observable in vivo became narrower and less tortuous than those of controls; Evans Blue Dye extravasation in tumor was significantly reduced (indicating a reduction in aberrant tumor vascular hyperpermeability that compromises blood flow), and tumor blood vessel morphology in histological sections, labeled for Factor VIII, revealed a significant reduction in compressive forces. These findings indicated blood vessel normalization with a window of 48 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique developed herein has rendered the hamster oral cancer model amenable to research, with the potential benefit of vascular normalization in head and neck cancer therapy.
authors: Department of Radiobiology, National Atomic Energy Commission, San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Ana J
authors: AJ
authors: Molinari
authors: Romina F
authors: RF
authors: Aromando
authors: Maria E
authors: ME
authors: Itoiz
authors: Marcela A
authors: MA
authors: Garabalino
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Monti Hughes
authors: Elisa M
authors: EM
authors: Heber
authors: Emiliano C C
authors: EC
authors: Pozzi
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Nigg
authors: Verónica A
authors: VA
authors: Trivillin
authors: Amanda E
authors: AE
authors: Schwint
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002610:Cheek / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000098:blood supply; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide