title: The role of angiogenesis in solid tumours: an overview.
abstract: Angiogenesis is the physiological process of the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Multiple molecules regulate angiogenesis, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietins, the fibroblast growth factor, the platelet-derived growth factor and the transforming growth factor-beta. Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, progression and metastasis of a tumour. Inhibiting the angiogenic process or targeting existing tumour vessels can be used for treatment of tumours as an alternative or in parallel with conventional chemotherapy. Many anti-angiogenic factors are under investigation and some are already being used in clinical practice with various results.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens School of Medicine, Greece. makmacs@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nektaria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makrilia
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lappa
authors.forename: Vassilia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Xyla
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Syrigos
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors