Intratumour heterogeneity in microvessel oxyhaemoglobin saturations

The aim of the present study was to examine intratumour heterogeneity in mi crovessel oxyhaemoglobin (HbO(2)) saturations in human melanoma xenografts. The HbO(2) saturations, measured with a cryospectrophotometric micromethod , were found to vary substantially within single tumours. All rumours showe d a decrease in overall HbO(2) saturation from the periphery towards the ce ntre, although the profiles could vary substantially between individual rum ours. Local differences could be large, and many tumours had HbO(2) saturat ions spanning from 0 to 100% in peripheral regions. In central tumour regio ns, low saturations were prevailing although subregions of intermediate and high saturations could also be found. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt d. All rights reserved.