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Updated: Oct 1, 2026
Chick ex ovo Culture and ex ovo CAM Assay: How it Really Works
Published on: November 30, 2009
Bevacizumab Modulation of the Interaction Between the MCF-7 Cell Line and the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane
Şerban Comşa1, Roxana Popescu2, Ştefana Avram1
1Department of Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania.
Aim:
To evaluate the interaction between MCF-7 breast cancer cells and the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and the ability of bevacizumab to modulate this process.
Materials And Methods:
We implanted MCF-7 cells onto CAM and repeatedly added bevacizumab to a subset of eggs. We then evaluated the morphological and immunohistochemical profiles of CAM and MCF-7.
Results:
MCF-7 cells entered the mesoderm and stimulated the mesenchymal cells to acquire vasculogenic and myofibroblastoid features. MCF-7 cells developed an estrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor-, p53- and Ki67-negative status and entered the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Bevacizumab down-regulated the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 protein (BCL-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and E-cadherin in MCF-7 and inhibited vasculogenesis.
Conclusion:
MCF-7 cells turn the mesoderm of CAM into a surrogate tumor stroma. CAM induces a triple-negative, non-proliferative but still anti-apoptotic status in MCF-7 cells. Although antivasculogenic, bevacizumab stimulates MCF-7 cells to acquire a more aggressive status.
