Pilot study of differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial cells induced by B16 melanoma cells in vitro / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) have the potential to differentiate into endothelial cells. The aim of the study was to investigate the induction process of BMSC by B16 melanoma cells in vitro and to analyze the role of VEGF-a in the process.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A co-culture system containing BMSC and B16 melanoma cells based on transwell indirect model was established, and the induction process of BMSC by B16 melanoma cells was studied in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BMSC were isolated from the bone marrow of C57 mice. BMSC expressed CD105, CD90, CD73, CD44 and CD166, and acquired expressin of endothelial phenotype markers including VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and Factor VIII after co-culture with B16 melanoma cells for 48 hours. The expression level of VEGFR-2 would be double and Factor VIII threefold more by extending the co-culture time to 72 hours. In the co-culture system, B16 melanoma cells also up-regulated the expression of VEGF-a.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>VEGF-a plays a significant role in the differentiation of BMSC into cells of endothelial phenotype, therefore, is important to tumor angiogenesis.</p>

Correlation of vasculogenic mimicry with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of ovarian carcinoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the existence of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in ovarian carcinoma and its correlationship with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of the tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 84 ovarian carcinoma cases were collected with complete clinical and prognostic data. CD31 immunohistochemistry and PAS special stain were used to investigate VM in the tumor tissue. Immunohistochemical staining of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and Vimentin were used to explore the pathogenesis of VM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 36 of 84 cases exhibited evidence of VM. FIGO classification, pathologic grades and histological types were significantly different between the VM and non-VM groups. Expression of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin and beta-catenin were higher in the VM group than in the non-VM group. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that cases of the VM group had a lower survival rate than that of the non-VM group (P = 0.04).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Vasculogenic mimicry exists in ovarian carcinoma. Ovarian carcinomas with a high grade malignancy have a high incidence of VM formation, a higher incidence of metastases and a lower survival rate. High expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may contribute to the formation of VM in the ovarian cancer.</p>