The Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane as a Model System for the Study of Tumor Angiogenesis, Invasion and Development of Anti-Angiogenic Agents

Abstract

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is essential for tumor growth, progression and metastasis. The development of agents that target tumor vasculature is ultimately dependent on the availability of appropriate preclinical screening assays. The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay is well established and widely used as a model to examine angiogenesis, and anti-angiogenesis. This review 1) summarizes the currently used angiogenesis assays and the importance of CAM model among them; 2) summarizes the current knowledge about the development and structure of the CAM's capillary bed; 3) reports findings regarding the role played by molecular signaling pathways in angiogenesis process; 4) discusses the use, advantages and limitations of the CAM as a model for studying tumor angiogenesis and invasiveness, as well as development of angiogenic and/or anti-angiogenic agents; 5) discusses the importance of standardization of the major methodologies for all aspects of the use of the CAM in angiogenesis-related studies; 6) and finally, summarizes major findings regarding the agents developed by the use of CAM model in the study of tumor angiogenesis, invasion and development of anti-angiogenic agents.

A new take on an old story: chick limb organ culture for skeletal niche development and regenerative medicine evaluation

“…Microinjection of exogenous platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or a PDGF inhibitor, demonstrated the role of this growth factor in derivation of the peripheral nervous system of the head (McCabe and Bronner-Fraser, 2008). Microinjection of glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes enabled assessment of the role of GAGs in the morphology of the embryonic mesoblast, to demonstrate that hyaluronate is involved in preserving the mesenchymal aspect of the middle layer during lateral cell migration (Van Hoof et al, 1986). Ganan et al (1993) examined the microinjection of substances that induce interdigital chondrogenesis in order to assess the phenomenon of embryonic extra digit formation.…”

“…and/or anti-angiogenesis in the context of cancer, for the development or testing of anti-angiogenic drugs aimed at treating certain cancers where enhanced angiogenesis is a key feature Ribatti, 2008a;Ribatti, 2008b;Tufan and Satiroglu-Tufan, 2005). Two such studies have examined the use of antibodies to block the angiogenic endocrine gland-related vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF), which led to disruption of the vasculature and extravasation of red blood cells (Feflea et al, 2012) and the potent anti-angiogenic effects of a heparin modified endostatin (Ning et al, 2012).…”

Evaluation of Angiogenic Potential of 1-Monocaproin Using Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay

“…Because of its extensive vascularization and easy accessibility, CAM has been used to study morphofunctional aspects of the angiogenesis process in vivo and the effi cacy and mechanism of action of pro-and antiangiogenic molecules [10]. CAM assays have been widely used to study angiogenesis [11], and the advantages of the CAM model are as follows: (i) the highly vascularized nature of the CAM greatly promotes the assessment of angiogenic property; (ii) high reproducibility; (iii) simplicity and cost effectiveness; and finally (iv) as the CAM assay is a closed system, the half-life of many new molecules tends to be much longer in comparison to animal models, allowing experimental study of potential angiogenic compounds in small quantities [12,13]. In this study, 1-monocaproin synthesized [14] through a modified process with caproic acid, glycidol, and chromium (III) chloride as a catalyst, was evaluated for a potent angiogenic compound along with VEGF (positive control) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (negative control) through the CAM assay.…”

Quantification of angiogenic characteristics of Naproxen sodium through chorioallantoic membrane assay

“…Numerous anti-AG medications are presently under development, involved in clinical trials or are being used in the treatment of AG complaints, mostly cancer (Abdollahi and Folkman, 2010). CAM model is used in the experiments in this study in order to test anti-angiogenic agents alone and in combination (Tufan and Satiroglu-Tufan, 2005). This model delivers a usual, in vivo setting of angiogenic blood vessels with all the multifaceted swarm communications on which angiogenic combinations can be verified (Tufan and Satiroglu-Tufan, 2005).…”

“…CAM model is used in the experiments in this study in order to test anti-angiogenic agents alone and in combination (Tufan and Satiroglu-Tufan, 2005). This model delivers a usual, in vivo setting of angiogenic blood vessels with all the multifaceted swarm communications on which angiogenic combinations can be verified (Tufan and Satiroglu-Tufan, 2005).…”