Similar methods applied to human ovarian and colon tumors confirmed endosialin expression by pericytes.
In order to see whether endosialin was related to radiotherapy (RT) response, and clinicopathological and biological variables, we investigated endosialin expression in rectal cancers from the patients who participated in a Swedish clinical trial of preoperative RT.
Furthermore, endosialin expression in the tumour-associated stroma was positively correlated with that in tumour cells, giving more information regarding the interactions of endosialin between tumour microenvironments and tumours.
In the fibroblasts, endosialin expression of intratumoural or peritumoural areas ranged from a prominent to a diffuse pattern.
We have studied PINCH expression in colorectal carcinomas and found that PINCH overexpressed on fibroblasts in the tumour-associated stroma compared to its expression in normal mucosa [ 33], similar to endosialin expression in tumour versus normal mucosa.
Interestingly, endosialin expression was reduced in cells subjected to gentle stirring throughout the experiment to ensure proper oxygenation of the cell monolayer and elimination of pericellular hypoxia, which occurs in high density cultures (Sheta et al, 2001).
In the present study, we examined endosialin expression in distant and adjacent normal mucosa, as well as in primary tumours, from rectal cancer patients, with or without preoperative RT.
Moreover, abundant endosialin expression was found in the vasculature and fibroblast-like cells of the developing mouse and human embryos (Rupp et al, 2006; MacFadyen et al, 2007; Virgintino et al, 2007).
Antibodies developed to human endosialin were used to investigate endosialin expression and function in human prenatal brain pericytes and pericytes residing in tumors.
Endosialin expression was positively related to PRL expression (p = 0.02; Table 4).
