Angiogenesis and ovarian cancer.
Ovarian carcinoma is the most important cause of gynaecological cancer-related mortality in Western societies. The age at diagnosis, extent of disease (as expressed by FIGO state), success of primary surgery and the histopathological features of the tumour are important prognostic markers. The majority of patients with ovarian cancer present with advanced disease (FIGO stage III/IV) and in this group of patients the median survival is only three years. New treatment approaches are therefore required to improve outcome in this disease. Angiogenesis, the development of a neovascular blood supply, is a critical step in the propagation of malignant tumour growth and metastasis and represents a promising target. This review will focus on angiogenesis, VEGF biology and the potential value of angiogenic factors with prognostic value in ovarian cancer.
Department of Clinical Oncology, Hospital Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain.
César
C
Gómez-Raposo
Marta
M
Mendiola
Jorge
J
Barriuso
Enrique
E
Casado
David
D
Hardisson
Andrés
A
Redondo
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II