Extra-long projections of the cell surface in nonspecial-type ductal carcinoma with vascular invasion under the...

In this study, cell surface projections of primary culture cells from tissues of infiltrating ductal carcinoma Non Special Type with vascular invasion are examined by use of the Scanning Electron Microscopy method. In these cases the projections of cell membrane appeared extremely long and bridge-like covering very long distances between the breast cancer cells. Also, the long cell membrane projections, connect cells between them and form a complex. Sometimes, from one edge to another we observed a very long chain of cancer cells reaching sometimes a length of 3, 3 mm. On the other hand the absence of vascular invasion never shows such long projections of the cell membrane even if there are many metastatic nodes. The role of these extra long projections in communication between cancer cells is determinant. Through this communication, these long projections seemed to be responsible for the metastatic process in primary breast cancer with vascular invasion.