We hypothesize that the interaction between angiotropic melanoma cells and the abluminal vascular surface can induce or sustain embryonic and/or stem cell migratory properties in these tumor cells. As a result, such angiotropic melanoma cells may migrate along the abluminal vascular surface, demonstrating pericytic mimicry. Through these cellular interactions, melanoma cells may migrate toward secondary sites.
Keywords: abluminal vascular surface; angiotropism; extravascular migratory metastasis (EVMM); pericyticmimicry; stem cell/embryonic migration.
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