Title:Anti-VEGF Strategies – from Antibodies to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Background and Clinical Development in Human Cancer
Volume: 18
Issue: 19
Author(s): Grzegorz Korpanty and Elizabeth Smyth
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Tumour angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor, anti-angiogenic therapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, metastasis, microenvironment, solid malignancies, monoclonal antibodies, lymphatic vasculature, cytokines
Abstract: Tumour angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels supporting tumour growth and metastasis) is a result of complex interactions
between the tumour and the surrounding microenvironment. Targeting tumours with anti-angiogenic therapy remains an exciting
area of preclinical and clinical studies. Although many significant advances have been achieved and the clinical use of anti-angiogenic
drugs is now well recognized in many solid malignancies, these therapies fall short of their anticipated clinical benefits and leave many
unanswered questions like exact mechanism of action, patients’ selection and monitoring response to anti-angiogenic drugs.
Tumour angiogenesis is controlled by complex signaling cascades and ongoing research into molecular mechanisms of tumour angiogenesis
not only helps to understand its basic mechanisms but hopefully will identify new therapeutic targets.
In 2012, both monoclonal antibodies and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors remain the two major clinically useful therapeutic options
that interfere with tumour angiogenesis in many solid malignancies.