Role of host microenvironment in angiogenesis and microvascular functions in human breast cancer xenografts: mammary fat pad versus cranial tumors.

Abstract

The primary breast cancer exhibited higher vascular permeability, but the cranial tumor showed more angiogenesis, suggesting that the cranial environment is leakage resistant but proangiogenic. Collectively, host microenvironment is an important determinant of tumor gene expression and microvascular functions, and, thus, orthotopic breast tumor models should be useful for obtaining clinically relevant information.