The vasculature of xenotransplanted human melanomas and sarcomas on nude mice. II. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies.

The tumor-inherent vasculature plays a major role with respect to tumor sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Ultrastructural studies of the tumor vasculature are necessary in order to obtain more detailed information on the architecture and structure and on the sites affected by tumor therapy. The vasculature of xenotransplanted human tumors on nude mice was investigated in this study by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Structurally complete, real arteries or veins are neither to be seen in the periphery nor in the center. Large-caliber vessels basically have a capillary wall structure. The endothelial cells show a very alternating height and electron density. Frequently, different cell types and tumor cells themselves are apparently involved in the formation of the vessel wall. The endothelium is characterized by very simple, immature cell contacts. In some tumors, the amount of vessels without or with incomplete endothelium seems to be higher than the number of structurally real capillaries. This has consequences as well for radiotherapy as for hyperthermia and chemotherapy.