Overall, angiogenesis research starts with the monitoring
of endothelial cells (barrier function, signalling, cell growth); these
observations are then studied to understand their relationship to
angiogenesis and tube formation. ECIS is a highly useful in vitro assay to
determine endothelial cell growth and its inhibition as well as the barrier
function of endothelial monolayers.
In preliminary ECIS experiments with VEGF and other
growth factors and their inhibitors, results can commonly be correlated with
angiogenesis inhibition in vivo. In some cases, the blocking of endothelial
cell proliferation has actually been proven to encourage tube formation.
Although ECIS cannot directly follow capillary formation
in tumour masses, it can monitor the effect of tumour cells upon a normal
endothelial cell monolayer in vitro. Monitoring barrier function
(permeability), ECIS has successful recorded extravasion of endothelial cell
layers by metastatic cells and hence can be used as a tool for testing
anti-cancer therapies in vitro.
