Molecular biology of breast cancer metastasis - Molecular expression of vascular markers by aggressive breast cancer cells

During embryogenesis, the formation of primary vascular networks occurs via the processes of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. In uveal melanoma, vascu logenic mimicry describes the 'embryonic-like' ability of aggressive, but n ot nonaggressive, tumor cells to form networks surrounding spheroids of tum or cells in three-dimensional culture; these recapitulate the patterned net works seen in patients' aggressive tumors and correlates with poor prognosi s. The molecular profile of these aggressive tumor cells suggests that they have a deregulated genotype, capable of expressing vascular phenotypes. Si milarly, the embryonic-like phenotype expressed by the aggressive human bre ast cancer cells is associated with their ability to express a variety of v ascular markers. These studies may offer new insights for consideration in breast cancer diagnosis and therapeutic intervention strategies.