The MSC-MCF-7 Duet Playing Tumor Vasculogenesis and Angiogenesis onto the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane

Background/aim Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) represent a versatile cell population, able to modulate the tumor microenvironment. Our aim was to recreate an open scene for the in vivo interaction between hMSC and the MCF-7 breast cancer cells (MCF-7), in order to enlighten the intimate involvement of hMSC in tumor vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Materials and methods hMSC and MCF-7 were seeded onto the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and incubated for 7 days. Consecutively, the morphology and the immunohistochemical profile of CAM were assessed. Results Following this complex interaction, MCF-7 acquired a more aggressive phenotype, hMSC switched to a vascular precursor phenotype, while CAM underwent a major reset to an earlier stage, with hotspots of angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis. Conclusion The hallmark of this study was the establishment of a veritable in vivo experimental model of MSC involvement in tumor vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, allowing further analysis in the field.