BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis and growth in most solid neoplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clonal tumor cell lines expressing varying levels of this pro-angiogenic factor were created via recombinant adeno-associated virus infection of a human (HT29) and rodent (SCCVII) tumor model. RESULTS: The alteration in VEGF expression levels did not significantly impact the in vitro growth rate of the clonal cell lines or the expression levels of other known pro-angiogenic factors. However, the tumors that arose from these clonal cell lines did display significant physiological differences. Upregulation of VEGF expression increased the in vivo growth rate and the intratumoral vessel density of the resulting tumors and decreased the extent of tumor necrosis. CONCLUSION: Since the tumor vascular network can impact the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies, these results suggest that VEGF expression may be important to consider in the treatment of cancer.
BACKGROUND:Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis and growth in most solid neoplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clonal tumor cell lines expressing varying levels of this pro-angiogenic factor were created via recombinant adeno-associated virus infection of a human (HT29) and rodent (SCCVII) tumor model. RESULTS: The alteration in VEGF expression levels did not significantly impact the in vitro growth rate of the clonal cell lines or the expression levels of other known pro-angiogenic factors. However, the tumors that arose from these clonal cell lines did display significant physiological differences. Upregulation of VEGF expression increased the in vivo growth rate and the intratumoral vessel density of the resulting tumors and decreased the extent of tumor necrosis. CONCLUSION: Since the tumor vascular network can impact the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies, these results suggest that VEGF expression may be important to consider in the treatment of cancer.