title: Sidestream dark field videomicroscopy for in vivo evaluation of vascularization and perfusion of mammary tumours in HER2/neu transgenic mice.
abstract: Angiogenesis plays a key role in tumour growth and the formation of metastases. Angiogenesis inhibitors and antivascular agents may prove useful in the treatment of breast cancer. A comprehensive characterization of the vasculature and perfusion of mammary tumours is a prerequisite for developing new specific drugs. We used sidestream dark field videomicroscopy to evaluate in vivo the vascular network of spontaneous mammary tumours in HER2/neu transgenic mice. The tumour masses showed higher vessel density compared with the healthy mammary gland (median (interquartile range) total vessel density 16.8 (13.4-20.5) vs 9.1 (8.1-10.9) mm/mm(2), respectively; P < 0.001). Tumor vessel density was reduced in mice treated with the anti-angiogenesis agent berberine, 12.1 (10.6-13.1) mm/mm(2). Sidestream dark field imaging is a versatile technique that may be useful for understanding the role of angiogenesis in the progression of breast cancer and its relationship with outcome. It may represent a valuable tool for dynamic monitoring of the effects of new anti-angiogenesis therapies.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pierpaoli
authors.forename: Fiorenza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Abele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provinciali
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000473:pathology; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000379:methods; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D001599:Berberine; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
keywords: angiogenesis; breast cancer; sidestream dark field videomicroscopy