Evidence for an Additional Metastatic Route: In Vivo Imaging of Cancer Cells in the Primo-Vascular System Around Tumors and Organs

• Published in: Molecular imaging and biology Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 471 - 480
• Main Authors: Yoo, Jung Sun, Kim, Hong Bae, Won, Nayoun, Bang, Jiwon, Kim, Sungjee, Ahn, Saeyoung, Lee, Byung-Cheon, Soh, Kwang-Sup
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.06.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Disease Models, Animal; Electroporation; Female; Gonads - pathology; Humans; Imaging; Lymphatic Vessels - pathology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms - blood supply; Neoplasms - pathology; Omentum - pathology; Organ Specificity; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Quantum Dots; Radiology; Research Article; Subcutaneous Tissue - pathology; Tumor Stem Cell Assay; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Electroporation; Cancer metastasis; Multispectral imaging; Near-infrared quantum dots; Primo-vascular system; Vasculogenic mimicry
• ISSN: 1536-1632; 1860-2002
• DOI: 10.1007/s11307-010-0366-1

Purpose Researchers have been studying the mechanisms by which metastasis can be prevented via blocking the hematogenous and the lymphatic routes for a long time now. However, metastasis is still the single most challenging obstacle for successful cancer management. In a new twist that may require some retooling of this established approach, we investigated the hypothesis that tumor metastases can occur via an independent fluid-conducting system called the primo-vascular system. Procedures The dissemination and growth of near-infrared quantum dot (NIR QD)-electroporated cancer cells in metastatic sites were investigated using in vivo multispectral imaging techniques. Results Our results show that the NIR QD-labeled cancer cells were able to migrate through not only the blood vascular and lymphatic systems but also the primo-vascular system extending from around the tumor to inside the abdominal cavity. Furthermore, the NIR QD-labeled cancer cells, which had been seeded intraperitoneally, specifically infiltrated the primo-vascular system in the omentum and in the gonadal fat. Conclusions These findings strongly suggest that the primo-vascular system may be an additional metastasis route, complementing the lymphatic and hematogenous routes, which facilitate the dissemination and colonization of cancer cells at secondary sites.