Angiogenesis: An update and potential drug approaches (Review)

Abstract

Abstract. The therapeutic potential of targeting tumor endothelium and vascular supply is now widely recognized to treat different diseases. One such disease is cancer; where endothelial cells are actively proliferating to support the tumor growth. Solid tumors cannot grow beyond the size of a few millimeters without inducing the proliferation of endothelium and formation of new blood vessels. Hence it is crucial to search for new agents that selectively block tumor blood supply. These include anti-angiogenic molecules, vascular disrupting agents or endothelial disrupting agents. The antiangiogenic molecules such as monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors disrupt endothelial cell survival mechanisms and new blood vessel formation, and vascular disrupting agents for instance ligand-directed and small molecules can be used to disrupt the already existing abnormal vasculature that support tumors by targeting their dysmorphic endothelial cells. The recent advances in this area of research have identified a variety of investigational agents which are currently in clinical development at various stages and some of these candidates are already approved in cancer treatment. This report will review some of the recent developments and most significant advances in this field and outline future challenges and directions.

Meta-analysis of the association between VEGF-634 G>C and risk of malignancy based on 23 case–control studies

“…Through delivering sufficient nutritional materials, producing some factors, and forming tumor blood vessel and a route for tumor cell egress, it enables tumor growth, invasion, and dissemination (Makrilia et al 2009;Kerbel 2008;Folkman 2002). Therefore, blocking angiogenesis and cutting down blood supply are recognized as one of most potential way for treating malignancy (Abdelrahim et al 2010).…”

Cluster analysis of quantitative parametric maps from DCE-MRI: application in evaluating heterogeneity of tumor response to antiangiogenic treatment

“…The development of novel anticancer strategies targeting the angiogenic step calls for imaging methods able to assess the early response to new antiangiogenic treatments, comprising vascular disrupting agents (which destroy existing vessels) or antiangiogenic drugs (which block new vessels formation) [2,3].…”

Spindle cells from acquired immune deficiency syndrome‐associated Kaposi's sarcoma lesions express telomerase activity directly relating to the RNA levels of fibroblast growth factor‐2

“…4,5 It had been suggested that functional telomerase could sustain angiogenesis by extending EC lifespan, [6][7][8][9] and that continued angiogenesis supporting tumour growth 3 could derive from the capability that EC lining tumour vessels have to escape senescence. 10 Consistent with that hypothesis, Falchetti et al 1 reported that the angiogenic behaviour of human EC (and their survival) in mice is strongly impaired by telomerase inhibitors.…”