Figure 11. Hypothetical model of pericyte-derived tumor.

An integrated hypothetic model showing that malignant pericytes expressing GT198 (red) capture sprouting endothelial cells (red tubing) to form small blood vessels. Pericytes are progenitors which are capable to proliferate and differentiate into tumor cells (blue) in larger vessels. The large vessels further merge into tumor containing GT198⁺ nodules. Through angiogenic vessel formation, the continued pericyte-tumor cell cycles expand the tumor. The net effect of this process is differentiation from malignant pericytes into tumor cells facilitated by angiogenesis.