Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Pericyte-like location of GFP-tagged melanoma cells: ex vivo and in vivo studies of extravascular migratory metastasis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lugassy, C; Kleinman, HK; Engbring, JA; Welch, DR; Harms, JF; Rufner, R; Ghanem, G; Patierno, SR; Barnhill, RL
Published in: Am J Pathol
April 2004

Previous studies have demonstrated that some tumor cells occupy a pericyte-like location in melanoma, forming angio-tumoral complexes. We hypothesized that these tumor cells are migrating along the abluminal surface of the endothelium, a mechanism termed "extravascular migratory metastasis." In the present study, we have used human and murine melanoma cells that stably express enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) to examine, in an ex vivo co-culture model, melanoma cell interactions with vessels that have sprouted from rat aortic rings. We also used in vivo tumor growth on the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) to observe the dissemination pathway of melanoma cells. In the ex vivo rat aorta system, we observed a pericyte-like location of tumor cells that were spreading along the vascular channels. For examination of the CAM in vivo, we have used the Lugassy preparation, allowing one to obtain striking images of the relationship between fluorescent GFP cells and microvessels. Melanoma cells were found cuffing the outside of vessels around the tumor. Tumor cells were observed along the vessels several centimeters from the tumor. Confocal microscopy and histopathology confirmed the pericyte-like location of tumor cells, without any observable intravasation. The results indicate that melanoma cells can migrate along the abluminal surface of vessels. This study also demonstrates that these models can provide quantitation analysis that may prove useful in elucidating the molecular interactions involved in extravascular migratory metastasis.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Am J Pathol

DOI

ISSN

0002-9440

Publication Date

April 2004

Volume

164

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1191 / 1198

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transfection
  • Pericytes
  • Pathology
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mice
  • Melanoma, Experimental
  • Luminescent Proteins
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Lugassy, C., Kleinman, H. K., Engbring, J. A., Welch, D. R., Harms, J. F., Rufner, R., … Barnhill, R. L. (2004). Pericyte-like location of GFP-tagged melanoma cells: ex vivo and in vivo studies of extravascular migratory metastasis. Am J Pathol, 164(4), 1191–1198. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63207-5
Lugassy, Claire, Hynda K. Kleinman, Jean A. Engbring, Danny R. Welch, John F. Harms, Robyn Rufner, Ghanem Ghanem, Steven R. Patierno, and Raymond L. Barnhill. “Pericyte-like location of GFP-tagged melanoma cells: ex vivo and in vivo studies of extravascular migratory metastasis.Am J Pathol 164, no. 4 (April 2004): 1191–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63207-5.
Lugassy C, Kleinman HK, Engbring JA, Welch DR, Harms JF, Rufner R, et al. Pericyte-like location of GFP-tagged melanoma cells: ex vivo and in vivo studies of extravascular migratory metastasis. Am J Pathol. 2004 Apr;164(4):1191–8.
Lugassy, Claire, et al. “Pericyte-like location of GFP-tagged melanoma cells: ex vivo and in vivo studies of extravascular migratory metastasis.Am J Pathol, vol. 164, no. 4, Apr. 2004, pp. 1191–98. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63207-5.
Lugassy C, Kleinman HK, Engbring JA, Welch DR, Harms JF, Rufner R, Ghanem G, Patierno SR, Barnhill RL. Pericyte-like location of GFP-tagged melanoma cells: ex vivo and in vivo studies of extravascular migratory metastasis. Am J Pathol. 2004 Apr;164(4):1191–1198.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Pathol

DOI

ISSN

0002-9440

Publication Date

April 2004

Volume

164

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1191 / 1198

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transfection
  • Pericytes
  • Pathology
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mice
  • Melanoma, Experimental
  • Luminescent Proteins