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Published September 1, 1993 | public
Journal Article

A model mechanism for the chemotactic response of endothelial cells to tumour angiogenesis factor

Abstract

In order to accomplish the transition from avascular to vascular growth, solid tumours secrete a diffusible substance known as tumour angiogenesis factor (TAF) into the surrounding tissue. Endothelial cells which form the lining of neighbouring blood vessels respond to this chemotactic stimulus in a well-ordered sequence of events consisting, at minimum, of a degradation of their basement membrane, migration, and proliferation. A model mechanism is presented which includes the diffusion of the TAF into the surrounding host tissue and the response of the endothelial cells to the chemotactic stimulus. The model accounts for the main observed events associated with the endothelial cells during the process of angiogenesis (i.e. cell migration and proliferation); the numerical results compare very well with experimental observations. The situation where the tumour (i.e. the source of TAF) is removed and the vessels recede is also considered.

Additional Information

© 1993 Oxford University Press. Received: 05 August 1992. Revision Received: 12 June 1993. Published: 01 September 1993. This article is based on a paper read at the Sixth IMA Conference on the Mathematical Theory of the Dynamics of Biological Systems, held in Oxford, 1-3 July 1992.

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
March 5, 2024