Blood Vessel Maturation in Retinoblastoma Tumors: Spatial Distribution of Neovessels and Mature Vessels and Its Impact on Ocular Treatment

Abstract

There is a spatially distributed, heterogeneous vessel population containing neovessels and mature vessels in advanced RB disease. There is a significantly higher concentration of mature, large-caliber vessels in the center of tumors that is similar in human RB and LH(BETA)T(AG) retinal tumors. From these data the authors hypothesize that tumor vessel maturation in RB initiates in central regions of the tumor and radiates toward the periphery.