This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pradeep, C. R. Articles by Kuttan, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pradeep, C. R. Articles by Kuttan, G. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and VEGF Receptors in Tumor Angiogenesis and Malignancies

Department of Biotherapeutics, Avestha Gengrain Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India

E. S. Sunila, MSc

Department of Immunology, Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur-Kerala, India

G. Kuttan, PhD

Department of Immunology, Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur-Kerala, India

Angiogenesis is a process by which new blood vessels are formed from preexisting vessels. New blood vessel formation by angiogenesis involves the degradation of extra-cellular matrix combined with sprouting and migration of endothelial cells from preexisting capillaries. Solid tumors consist of several components, including normal and stromal cells, extracellular matrix, and vasculature. To grow and metastasize, tumors must stimulate the development of new vasculature through angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic peptide with biologic effects that include regulation of hematopoietic stem cell development, extracellular matrix remodeling, and inflammatory cytokine regeneration. VEGF is both a vascular growth factor and a vascular permeability factor. Its expression can upregulate several proangiogenic and prometa-static molecules. As a central mediator of angiogenesis, VEGF has emerged as an important target for antiangiogenic therapy. In this review, the authors describe the essential characteristics of VEGF and the VEGF family of ligands and their receptors. They also provide an overview of the central role of VEGF in physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis, directly or indirectly. This review sheds light on the importance of VEGF-targeted antiangiogenic therapy based on the monoclonal antibodies against VEGF, small interfering RNA, and therapy directed against VEGF-VEGFR kinase. It also gives a brief overview of the natural products or dietary compounds that could be used as antiangiogenic agents. Therapeutic inhibition of vessel formation could be best suited to preventive strategies aimed at the suppression of angiogenesis in primary tumors in subjects at risk or of micrometastases after surgical removal of primary tumor.

Key Words: angiogenesis • VEGF • HIF-1 • endothelial cells

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Kanter, S. Y. Khan, M. Kelher, L. Gore, and C. C. Silliman Oncogenic and Angiogenic Growth Factors Accumulate during Routine Storage of Apheresis Platelet Concentrates Clin. Cancer Res., June 15, 2008; 14(12): 3942 - 3947. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]