Angiogenesis induced by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenografts in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane model.

The angiogenic potential of head and neck tumors compared to nonneoplastic control tissues was investigated by using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a bioassay for angiogenesis. Eighty tumor specimens from 10 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were grafted onto the CAM of 7-day chick embryos. The presence of tumor in the original explant was confirmed histologically. Forty-four embryos (55%) survived and were evaluated histologically at day 17. Tumors were growing on or invading the CAM mesoderm in 30 of 44 embryos (68%). Before harvesting of the membranes, the tumors and surrounding blood vessels were photographed, and the angiogenic responses were graded by a panel of blinded observers. Tumor explants elicited a significantly greater angiogenic response than nontumor controls (p = .01). We conclude that head and neck squamous cell carcinomas can induce an angiogenic response in vivo, presumably secondary to the production of an unidentified angiogenic factor, and that the chick embryo CAM is an effective model for quantifying angiogenesis induced by head and neck tumors.