Tumour Angiogenesis and Angiogenic Inhibitors: A Review

Abstract

Angiogenesis is a complex process depending on the coordination of many regulators and there by activating angiogenic switch. Recent advances in understanding of angiogenic mechanism have lead to the development of several anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic agents that use the strategy of regulation of angiogenic switch. Antiangiogenic therapy is a form of treatment not cure for cancer and represents a highly effective strategy for destroying tumour because vascular supply is the fundamental requirement for growth of tumour. Because of the quiescent nature of normal adult vasculature, angiogenic inhibitors are expected to confer a degree of specificity when compared to nonspecific modalities of chemo and radiotherapy, so it has the advantage of less toxicities, does not induce drug resistance and deliver a relatively non toxic, long term treatment of tumour.

Keywords: Angiogenic switch; Angiostatin; Interleukin; VEGF.

[Table/Fig-1]:

Steps in angiogenesis

[Table/Fig-2]:

Normal angiogenic mechanism

[Table/Fig-3]:

Angiogenic switch (Tumour induced)

[Table/Fig-4]:

Angiogenesis cascade and steps blocked by angiogenesis inhibitors

[Table/Fig-5]:

Role of Interleukins in angiogenesis

[Table/Fig-6]:

Drugs targeting Actions of VEGF