Hypoxia and angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal of all solid tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. It is characterized by late diagnosis, aggressive local invasion, early metastasis and resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Increasing knowledge regarding the molecular events behind the growth and invasion of pancreatic cancer may lead to new targets for intervention.


METHODS
A search of Pubmed and Medline databases was undertaken using the keywords pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, hypoxia, angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis therapy.


RESULTS
Hypoxia is the driving force behind angiogenesis in pancreatic cancers. Research into angiogenesis has shown many different sites that can be targeted by agents such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-angiogenic therapy could be an important adjunct to conventional chemotherapy treatment of gastrointestinal neoplasia.
Garcea
Giuseppe
G
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK. gg43@le.ac.uk
Doucas
Helena
H
Steward
Will P
WP
Dennison
Ashley R
AR
Berry
David P
DP
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors