title: Role of angiogenesis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Angiogenesis is a physiologic process of new blood vessels formation mediated by various cytokines called angiogenic and angiostatic factors. Although its potential pathophysiologic role in solid tumors has been extensively studied for more than 3 decades, enhancement of angiogenesis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other malignant hematological disorders has been recognized more recently. An increased level of angiogenesis has been documented by various experimental methods both in bone marrow and lymph nodes of patients with CLL. Although the role of angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of this disease remains to be fully elucidated, experimental data suggest that several angiogenic factors play a role in the disease progression. Biologic markers of angiogenesis were also shown to be of prognostic relevance in CLL. The current findings provide the rationale for investigating antiangiogenic agents in CLL. In the current review angiogenesis in CLL is discussed and its potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Clinical Hospital Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Letilovic
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vrhovac
authors.forename: Srdan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verstovsek
authors.forename: Branimir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaksic
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrajoli
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000032:analysis; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases