The Vascularization of Experimental and Human Primary Tumors: Comparative Morphometric and Morphologic Studies

The importance of the blood vessel system in solid tumors has given rise to an increasing interest in this system as a direct target for tumor therapy, i.e. vascular targeting (Denekamp, 1984). Furthermore, its importance as a route for delivery of anticancer drugs (chemo- and immunotherapies) or photosensitizers (photodynamic laser therapy), as well as its modulatory influences on radiotherapy and hyperthermia — the former greatly depending on the amount of oxygen available, the latter on heat transfer — are evident. Numerous studies on the energy metabolism of solid tumors (Vaupel et al., 1987, 1989) have pointed out the functional importance of the blood vessel system and stress the need…