Anti-angiogenic strategies and vascular targeting in the treatment of lung cancer.
The generation of new blood vessels, angiogenesis, is important for tumour proliferation and metastasis. This involves a number of interacting processes and factors, such as growth factors and the receptor tyrosine kinases, matrix metalloproteinases and integrins. Studies have shown that tumour vascularity and the overexpression of growth factors and their receptors are of independent prognostic importance in different cancers, including lung cancer. The present article provides a background to angiogenesis and describes the potential targets for anti-angiogenic and vascular targeting strategies in cancer, focusing specifically on carcinoma of the lung. It also describes the anti-angiogenic drugs presently under phase I, II and III investigation and highlights some of the problems associated with the standard methodologies for assessing tumour response and drug efficacy using these agents.
Brock
C S
CS
Meyerstein Institute of Oncology, Middlesex/University College London Hospitals, UK. cbrock@icr.ac.uk
Lee
S M
SM
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D043169:Endostatins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043169:Endostatins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013792:Thalidomide; D003094:Collagen