Human melanoma lymph node metastases (entirely embedded).

<p>(A) Box plot comparison of lymphatic vessels (number of D2–40 positive vessels per core) in primary versus metastatic melanoma. * One case, * two cases. (B) Absence of D2–40 staining within metastatic tissue showing no lymphatic vessels (×30). (C) D2–40 positivity shows dilated lymphatic vessels present at the tumor/lymphatic parenchyma interface (arrow, ×150). (D) CD34 staining shows important blood micro-neovascularisation within metastases. (×50). (E) CD34-positive blood microvessels (arrowhead) associated with CD34–negative cells showing vascular mimicry (arrow, ×400). (F) and (G) Cells of vascular mimicries embedded in a PAS (F) and collagen IV (G) positive laminina (arrow, ×320)).</p

Human melanoma lymph node metastases (entirely embedded).

<p>(A) and (B) Vascular mimicries (arrow): (A) Melanoma cells with endothelial-like morphology, condensed nuclei, minimal Masson Fontana positive (inset) pigmentation (H&E, ×500), (B) mostly negative for PanMelanoma (red) (×150).</p

Blood and lymphatic vessels per TMA core (0,28 mm²) in primary and metastatic melanoma.

<p>± Mean ± SD.</p

Melanoma xenograft tissues.

<p>(A) Mouse vessel-specific MECA32 staining shows micro-neovascularisation within melanoma xenografts (arrowhead, ×100) and positive vessels of the adjacent soft tissue (arrow). (B) Vascular mimicries negative for MECA32 (arrow) associated with and connecting MECA32-positive vessels (arrowhead, ×175). (C) Interphase FISH for human chromosome 17 and HER-2 combined with immunofluorescence staining for the mouse-specific vessel marker MECA32: Tumor capillaries with endothelial cells positive for MECA32 (yellow) and negative for HER-2 (arrow) as well as endothelial-like cell with negativity for MECA32 and positivity for human chromosome 17 and HER-2 (arrowhead, green; ×500). (D) and (G) Melanoma tumor cell-derived endothelial-like cells: (D) Capillary endothelial-like cell positive for human chromosome 17 and HER-2 (arrow) and positive internal control of tumor cells (arrowhead, ×500. (E) and (F) Negative internal controls of slide D and G. Melanoma xenograft adjacent soft tissue with mouse capillaries and fibroblasts negative for human chromosome 17_HER-2 probe (E, ×500) and negative for FISH y probe and CD31 (F, ×700). (G) Interphase FISH for human y-probe combined with immunofluorescence staining for the human-specific vessel marker CD31: Vessel endothelial-like cell positive for the Y chromosome (red) and CD31 (arrowhead, green; ×1000). (H) Vascular mimicries (arrow): Endothelial-like cells positive for human chromosome 17 and HER-2 (arrowhead, ×300). (K) and (L) Green fluorescent protein labelled melanoma cell lines: Melanoma cells (arrowhead, green) and endothelial cells (arrow) contributing to complex branching neo-vascularisation. (K ×200; L ×500).</p

Overview of melanoma xenograft experiments used for illustrating melanoma cells participation in neovascularisation.

<p>Overview of melanoma xenograft experiments used for illustrating melanoma cells participation in neovascularisation.</p