Journal of Cytology & Histology

Vasculogenic Mimicry in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

van Beurden A, van Dijk CM and Baeten CIM

Aims: Angiogenesis, as measured by degree of micro vessel density, has been associated with tumor progression in many tumor types, but does not always correlate with clinical outcome. Aggressive tumor cells were shown to form blood-conducting tubes not lined by endothelial cells, and this phenomenon was termed vasculogenic mimicry. Merkel cell carcinoma is a very aggressive but rare form of skin cancer, of neuroendocrine origin and with increasing incidence. We investigated the presence of vasculogenic mimicry in Merkel cell carcinoma in the Groene Hart Hospital, The Netherlands between 1990-2012.
Methods: Tumor tissues of all patients diagnosed with primary Merkel cell carcinoma in the period 1990-2012 in the Groene Hart Ziekenhuis were assessed on the presence of vasculogenic mimicry.
Results: We found vasculogenic mimicry in 11 (100%) out of the eleven patients primary diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma.
Conclusions: Vasculogenic mimicry is present in all Merkel cell carcinoma we found in our database and appears to be comparable to vasculogenic mimicry described in other tumors. Further investigation to vasculogenic mimicry can probably help us in finding a better understanding of the behaviour of Merkel cell carcinoma consequently a better treatment.