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Review
. 2011;12(10):7077-99.
doi: 10.3390/ijms12107077. Epub 2011 Oct 21.

Biomarkers in tumor angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapy

Andreas Pircher  1 , Wolfgang Hilbe, Isabel Heidegger, Joachim Drevs, André Tichelli, Michael Medinger
Affiliations
Review

Biomarkers in tumor angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapy

Andreas Pircher et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2011.

Abstract

Tumor angiogenesis has been identified to play a critical role in tumor growth and tumor progression, and is regulated by a balance of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic cytokines. Among them VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and its signaling through its receptors are of crucial relevance. Inhibition of VEGF signaling by monoclonal antibodies or small molecules (kinase inhibitors) has already been successfully established for the treatment of different cancer entities and multiple new drugs are being tested in clinical trials. However not all patients are likely to respond to these therapies, but to date there are no reliable biomarkers available to predict therapy response. Many studies integrated biomarker programs in their study protocols, thus several potential biomarkers have been identified which are currently under clinical investigation in prospective randomized studies. This review intends to give an overview of the described potential biomarkers as well as different imaging techniques such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging that can indicate benefit, resistance and toxicity to anti-angiogenic therapies.

Keywords: angiogenesis; biomarkers; imaging techniques; vascular endothelial growth factor.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Simplified scheme of the interactions between tumor cells, bone-marrow-derived cells, and immune cells with the endothelial system. Hypoxia is a major stimulator of VEGF expression. Tumor cells produce VEGF and other pro-angiogenic factors like basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulating endothelial cells to proliferate. Additionally, the endothelial cells were stimulated by tumor-associated fibroblasts and bone-marrow-derived angiogenic cells (adapted from [23]. VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Therapeutic strategies to target the VEGF/VEGF receptor system (adapted from [5]). VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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