title: Functional significance of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors on gastrointestinal cancer cells.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to be the major mediator of physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis. VEGF was initially thought to be an endothelial cell specific ligand, but recently, VEGF has been shown to mediate tumor cell function via activation of receptors on tumor cells themselves. Here, we review the expression patterns and binding profiles of the VEGF receptors and their ligands on gastrointestinal tumor cells. Furthermore, we describe the current knowledge in regards to the function of these receptors on tumor cells. Elucidating the function of VEGF receptors on tumor cells should help us to better understand the potential mechanisms of action of anti-VEGF therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230-1402, USA, n-dallas@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Nikolaos A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Dallas
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Buren
authors.forename: Sherry J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Lee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology