title: Could pericytic mimicry represent another type of melanoma cell plasticity with embryonic properties?
abstract: We hypothesize that the interaction between angiotropic melanoma cells and the abluminal vascular surface can induce or sustain embryonic and/or stem cell migratory properties in these tumor cells. As a result, such angiotropic melanoma cells may migrate along the abluminal vascular surface, demonstrating pericytic mimicry. Through these cellular interactions, melanoma cells may migrate toward secondary sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lugassy
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Péault
authors.forename: Madhuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadehra
authors.forename: Hynda K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kleinman
authors.forename: Raymond L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barnhill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology*; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000473:pathology; D020286:Pericytes / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: abluminal vascular surface; angiotropism; extravascular migratory metastasis (EVMM); pericyticmimicry; stem cell/embryonic migration