Growth and metastasis of tumors appear to be dependent on the ability of tumor cells to recruit blood vessels. Integrins are a class of cell adhesion molecules that may have a role in angiogenesis. In this study the effect of the expression of two integrins, α6β1 and α6β4, on microvessel density in human prostate tumor xenografts in SCID mice was evaluated. Five methods (one-person count, two-person count, digital analysis of immunostained tissues, and digital analysis of vascular corrosion casts) were used to measure microvessel density. Results indicate that alpha6 integrin expression correlates negatively with tumor vessel density. and with tumor cell proliferation but not the extent of the tumor burden. β4 integrin expression does not appear to affect tumor vessel density, tumor cell proliferation, nor tumor burden. Comparison of methods of quantitation suggest that computer-assisted vessel counting may offer advantages over optical counting or computer-assisted area measurement.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/278603 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | McCandless, John Richard, 1954- |
| Contributors | Cress, Anne |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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