Murine 5T multiple myeloma cells induce angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

in British Journal of Cancer (2002), 86(5), 796-802

Multiple myeloma is a B cell malignancy. Recently, it has been demonstrated that bone marrow samples of patients with multiple myeloma display an enhanced angiogenesis. The mechanisms involved seem to be ... [more ▼]

Multiple myeloma is a B cell malignancy. Recently, it has been demonstrated that bone marrow samples of patients with multiple myeloma display an enhanced angiogenesis. The mechanisms involved seem to be multiple and complex. We here demonstrate that the murine 5T multiple myeloma models are able to induce angiogenesis in vitro by using a rat aortic ring assay and in vivo by determining the microvessel density. The rat aortic rings cultured in 5T multiple myeloma conditioned medium exhibit a higher number of longer and more branched microvessels than the rings cultured in control medium. In bone marrow samples from 5T multiple myeloma diseased mice, a statistically significant increase of the microvessel density was observed when compared to bone marrow samples from age-matched controls. The angiogenic phenotype of both 5T multiple myeloma cells could be related, at least in part, to their capacity to produce vascular endothelial growth factor. These data clearly demonstrate that the 5T multiple myeloma models are good models to study angiogenesis in multiple myeloma and will allow to unravel the mechanisms of neovascularisation, as well as to test new putative inhibitors of angiogenesis. [less ▲]

The association of astrocytoma and pituitary adenoma in a patient with alcaptonuria.

in Journal of the Neurological Sciences (1992), 108(1), 32-34

A female patient with a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma and a pituitary adenoma is described. The patient also has alcaptonuria, a rare inborn error of metabolism with autosomal recessive mode of ... [more ▼]

A female patient with a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma and a pituitary adenoma is described. The patient also has alcaptonuria, a rare inborn error of metabolism with autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The association of these three disorders has never been reported previously. The possible existence of a common genetic factor in the development of both tumors and alcaptonuria is discussed. [less ▲]