Angiogenesis in normal and neoplastic ovaries

Abstract

Ovarian physiology is intricately connected to hormonally regulated angiogenic response. Recent advances in the post genomic revolution have significantly impacted our understanding of ovarian function. In an angiogenesis perspective, the ovary offers a unique opportunity to unravel the molecular orchestration of blood vessel development and regression under normal conditions. A majority of ovarian cancers develop from the single layer of epithelium surrounding the ovaries. Angiogenesis is critical for the development of ovarian cancer and its peritoneal dissemination. The present review summarizes recent findings on the angiogenic response in neoplastic ovaries and discusses the prospects of using anti-angiogenic approaches to treat ovarian cancer.

Inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis by a self-therapeutic nanoparticle

“…Furthermore CD31 staining of the tumor tissues of AuNP-treated mice also demonstrated a reduction in the number of tumor blood vessels compared with NT mice, consistent with the inhibitory effect of AuNPs toward HB-GF (Fig. 3 F and G) (45)(46)(47). Moreover, AuNP-mediated reversal of EMT and abrogation of MAPK activation leading to inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis was further confirmed by analysis of tumor tissues by Western blot analysis (Fig.…”

Antiangiogenic drugs in ovarian cancer

“…These changes are promoted by co-ordinated interactions between steroid hormones and angiogenic factors. At the start of an ovulatory cycle, a number of ovarian follicles start the step by step process of maturation with the subsequent selection of one or two dominant follicles, which are characteristically of higher vascularity (Ramakrishnan et al, 2005). These dominant follicles subsequently release ova and afterwards turn into a temporary endocrine tissue (corpus luteum) synthesising the steroid hormones required for endometrial development.…”

“…The subsequent regression of the vasculature during follicular atresia is triggered by increases in the levels of angiogenic inhibitors, in particular upregulation of Ang-2, towards the end of the luteal phase (Ramakrishnan et al, 2005).…”

Bioinformatic Analysis for the Validation of Novel Biomarkers for Cancer Diagnosis and Drug Sensitivity

“…Growth and capacity of ovarian carcinoma to metastasise has been demonstrated to be highly angiogenesis dependent (Alvarez et al 1999), with tumour hypoxia resulting in the secretion of proangiogenic growth factors to stimulate the development of tumour vasculature (Ramakrishnan et al 2005). Angiogenesis is integral to tumour survival, particularly in ovarian cancer, since tumour size is often large in relation to the relatively small ovaries and revascularisation is key to disease progression (Hazelton et al 1999).…”

“…The proangiogenic growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), was shown to be significantly implicated in angiogenesis in both normal ovaries (to maintain the function of the menstrual cycle) and in neoplastic ovaries (Ramakrishnan et al 2005).VEGF binds to tyrosine kinase receptors, activating the PI3 and AKT/MAP Kinase pathways and was identified as over-expressed in ovarian tumour cells comparative to normal, providing adequate vascularisation for neoplastic survival and promoting cell immortality. VEGF expression appears also to provide prognostic information on disease staging (Ramakrishnan et al 2005).…”