Antiangiogenic agents targeting vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in clinical development.
There is ample therapeutic opportunity for the use of antiangiogenic inhibitors in the clinic, as there are several human diseases that are dependent upon angiogenesis [1]. However, no disease has attracted as much attention as a target for antiangiogenic therapy as malignant disorders. There is a vast amount of literature acting as proof-of-principle for the use of angiogenic inhibitors as effective agents for blocking tumour-induced angiogenesis and subverting tumour growth and disease dissemination. One of the unique attractions of targeting tumour angiogenesis is that vascular endothelial cells are a genetically stable population in which acquisition of therapeutic resistance might be less efficient than in genetically unstable tumour cells [2,3]. This review covers inhibitors that target the tumour angiogenic agent vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors as one such antiangiogenic approach. Many agents in this class are in clinical trials with limited reports of toxicity and some early evidence of clinical benefit.
Sepp-Lorenzino
Laura
L
Department of Cancer Research, Merck Research Laboratories, WP26-462, West Point, PA 19486, USA. laura_sepplorenzino@merck.com
Thomas
Kenneth A
KA
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000639:trends*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor