Growth plate chondrocytes inhibit neo-angiogenesis - a possible mechanism for tumor control

Clinically, tumors seldom grow across the articular cartilage and physeal p late. It is believed that avascular cartilage may inhibit the neo-vasculari zation of tumor spread. The conditioned medium of growth plate chondrocytes resisted the migration of ECV304 by approximately 41% in invasion assay. G rowth plate chondrocytes were shown by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 -diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to have an insignificant effect on the viability of human endothelial cells and fibroblasts. However, the pro liferation of human endothelial cells was significantly inhibited by growth plate chondrocytes. The inhibitory activity was up to 35% and specific to endothelial cells. Inhibition of blood vessel formation was also demonstrat ed in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. These findings demons trated that growth plate chondrocytes secrete antiangiogenesis factor(s) wh ich specifically inhibit both the migration and proliferation of endothelia l cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.