Biology of angiogenesis in tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
The realization that the growth and spread of tumors are dependent on angiogenesis has created new avenues of research designed to help us to better understand cancer biology and to facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies. However, the process of angiogenesis consists of multiple, sequential, and interdependent steps with a myriad of positive and negative regulators of angiogenesis being involved. The survival of tumors and thus their metastases are dependent upon the balance of endogenous angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors such that the outcome favors increased angiogenesis. Several growth factors have been identified that regulate angiogenesis in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. These include pro-angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-angiogenic factors, i.e., thrombospondin. The following review provides a brief overview about the most important factors that are involved in the angiogenic process in tumors derived from colon, stomach, and pancreas. A thorough understanding of the role these factors play in the angiogenic process may lead to the development of novel therapeutic antineoplastic strategies.
Reinmuth
Niels
N
Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Parikh
Alexander A
AA
Ahmad
Syed A
SA
Liu
Wenbiao
W
Stoeltzing
Oliver
O
Fan
Fan
F
Takeda
Akihiko
A
Akagi
Morihisa
M
Ellis
Lee M
LM
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors