Degree of differentiation and blood vessel proximity in B16 melanoma

Corded structures consisting of rows of viable tumour cells around a central blood vessel are present in a number of transplantable mouse tumours, including transplantable B16 melanomas. These tumours were used to assess, by stereological means at the EM level, the range of differentiation of the melanoma cells, according to their position in relation to the central blood vessel. The mitotic index was also determined for perivascular and peripheral tumour cells separately. Furthermore, the transition of peripherally located cells into necrotic tumour cells is described at the EM level. Results shown an important increase in differentiation in peripheral tumour cells, whereas the mitotic index is highest in perivascular cells. Necrotic peripheral cells show features of apoptotic necrosis, together with necrosis of the ischaemic type. Results indicate that both proliferation and differentiation of melanoma cells are related to their position around a central blood vessel, and that peripheral necrosis is not exclusively due to lack of oxygen.