Pathological angiogenesis in a murine model of human Wilms' tumor

Background/Purpose: Pathological vascular architecture is a feature of neoa ngiogenic processes such as diseases of the retina and tumor growth. The au thors hypothesized that experimental human Wilms' tumors would display a va scular architecture similar to retinal diseases that are driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Methods: Human Wilms' tumors were established in the right kidneys of nude mice. After 4.5 weeks of tumor growth, fluorescein angiograms were performe d before death. Representative sections of tumors and contralateral, contro l kidneys were evaluated by fluorescent microscopy. Results: Fluorescein angiograms demonstrated a characteristic pathological architecture. Vascular tortuosity, capillary tufting, and hemorrhage were n oted. These features were not present in normal kidneys. Conclusions: Vascular architecture of Wilms' tumor displays the specific fe atures previously described in diseases of the retina, which have been show n to be driven by VEGF, suggesting that neoangiogenesis in this model is al so VEGF driven. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.