Off-tumor target--beneficial site for antiangiogenic cancer therapy?

Abstract

Antiangiogenic cancer therapy is based on agents that target blood vessels of the tumor to inhibit its growth. However, experience from the clinic demonstrates that survival benefits following antiangiogenic therapy do not always correlate with tumor size and growth inhibition. Emerging evidence shows that delivery of antiangiogenic drugs might induce systemic alterations of the vasculature that modulate the function of various tissues and organs. Normalization of tissues and organs by antiangiogenic therapy may be an important mechanism underlying the survival benefits seen in patients with cancer who suffer cancer-associated systemic syndromes. This new concept has been validated in preclinical tumor models, and responses in patients have positively correlated with clinical benefits.