Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane as a useful tool to study angiogenesis

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Cancer Research
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is crucial for gas and nutrient exchange.
• Its dense capillary network makes it a widely used in vivo model for studying angiogenesis and antiangiogenesis.
• The CAM assay has appeared in over 550 publications in the last 8 years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current knowledge on the CAM model for angiogenesis research.
• To detail the CAM's embryological origin, vascular morphology, and applications in tumor studies.
• To analyze the CAM's response to various cells, tissues, and angiogenic/antiangiogenic factors.

Main Methods:

• Review of embryological origin and vascular morphology of the CAM.
• In vivo assessment of CAM vascularization in response to tumor cells and tissues.
• Analysis of angiogenic and antiangiogenic substances, including fibroblast growth factor-2.
• Evaluation of CAM responses to antiangiogenic molecules.

Main Results:

• The CAM model is effective for studying tumor angiogenesis and metastasis in response to diverse biological samples.
• Fibroblast growth factor-2 plays a significant role in CAM vascularization.
• The CAM exhibits specific angiogenic responses to multiple myeloma and neuroblastoma cells.

Conclusions:

• The CAM assay provides a robust platform for investigating angiogenesis and antiangiogenesis in various contexts.
• Understanding the CAM's advantages and limitations is crucial for its effective application in research.
• This model aids in identifying and evaluating angiogenic and antiangiogenic substances and their mechanisms.