VEGF's Role in Melanoma Angiogenesis
Author Information
Author(s): Danielsen T, Rofstad E K
Primary Institution: Department of Biophysics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, N-0310, Norway
Hypothesis
The study investigates whether the constitutive level of VEGF is more important than hypoxia-induced VEGF up-regulation in melanoma angiogenesis.
Conclusion
The study found that the genetically determined level of VEGF is more crucial than hypoxia-induced upregulation for the angiogenesis of melanoma xenografts.
Supporting Evidence
- High VEGF and bFGF expression were associated with high angiogenic potential.
- High VEGF/bFGF expression correlated with low hypoxic fraction and high vascular density.
Takeaway
This study shows that a specific protein called VEGF is really important for how tumors grow new blood vessels, more so than low oxygen levels.
Methodology
The study compared VEGF and bFGF expression to hypoxic fraction, angiogenic potential, and vascular density in four human melanoma lines grown in mice.
Participant Demographics
Human melanoma lines were used in Balb/c nu/nu mice.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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