Patent ID: 6893812

Claim:
A method for assaying the angiogenic potential of a particular tumor in a mammal; said method comprising the steps of: (a) embedding a three-dimensional tissue sample in a matrix, wherein the tissue sample is taken from a particular tumor in a mammal; wherein the tissue sample has at least one cut surface exposing blood vessels; wherein the three-dimensional tissue sample comprises multiple layers of cells comprising blood vessels, supportive stromal elements, neural cells, and endothelial cells; wherein the architecture of the tissue sample is substantially intact and has not been disrupted as compared to that of comparable tissue in vivo; and wherein the three-dimensional tissue sample does not consist of an isolated artery or an isolated vein; (b) supplying to the embedded tissue sample a medium that supports the growth of the tissue sample; (c) incubating the embedded tissue sample in the medium for a time sufficient to allow any angiogenic vessels to grow into the matrix surrounding the tissue sample; and (d) observing or measuring any angiogenic vessels that grow into the matrix surrounding the tissue sample; whereby: the growth or any angiogenic vessels into the matrix is a measure of the angiogenic potential of the particular tumor from which the tissue sample was taken.