Northwestern University researchers have discovered a mechanism that may help to explain how angiogenesis inhibitors work on normal, blood vessel-forming endothelial cells, but not on insidious, aggressive melanoma cells that masquerade as endothelial-like cells by forming their own vascular networks, called “vasculogenic mimicry.” Mary J. C. Hendrix, professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and president and scientific director of the Children’s Memorial Research Center, led the study, results of which were published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Hendrix and her laboratory team are also members of The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.
