Illumination pancreatic cancer angiogenesis: Insights into tumor perfusion and microvascular architecture using the CAM model

Background: Global Cancer Statistics 2020 reported a total of 495773 new cases and 466003 related deaths for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths with an overall published five-year survival rate of less than 6%. Currently, surgical resection is the only potentially curative option followed by adjuvant chemotherapy which can only be opted in about 15% of patients due to the advanced stage at which the disease is usually diagnosed. This study aims to test various chemotherapeutic drugs to discover the most effective one in the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis.

Methods: To study the tumor’s microvascular architecture, human PDAC tissue are engrafted on the chorion allantois membrane (CAM) model, then changes in angiogenesis will be monitored by Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI), perfusion will be visualized via ultra high frequency ultrasound and anastomoses can be visualized via immunohistological staining using isolectin and human CD31.

Tumor spheroids derived from circulating tumor cells displayed heightened invasiveness and vascular integration, offering critical insights into their metastatic behavior. In this project PDAC and tumorspheres are cultured on the CAM and histological sections support the findings above, opening a gateway to tumor microvasculature insights and future potential treatment options.

Result: Throughout a seven-day cultivation period, PDAC tissues exhibited progressive vascularization, marked by the formation of functional anastomoses between human and chicken blood vessels within 72 hours post-engraftment. Whole-mount staining and immunofluorescence confirm the presence of anastomoses between both species, underscoring active and dynamic angiogenic mechanisms. Quantitative analyses revealed significant changes in tumor volume and perfusion, supported by histological evaluations and advanced 3D.

Conclusion: The effect of oxaliplatin can be evaluated in the CAM model, which is a promising model for the future. This will help shed light on future therapies, including personalized therapy for individual patients, and will potentially improve the prognosis of future PDAC patients.

Publication History

Article published online:
04 September 2025