Tumor blood vessels have abnormal morphology (McDonald, Nature Medicine 2003) and the EC are aneuploid with multiple chromosomes. The TRAMP model of spontaneous prostate carcinoma is useful for analyzing programmed tumor angiogenesis. TRAMP TEC are stem cell-like and can differentiate into cartilage and bone, concomitant with expression of cartilage- and bone-specific genes. Human prostate carcinoma blood vessels are calcified, indicative of bone formation in these hybrid cells.
