title: Is VEGF a predictive biomarker to anti-angiogenic therapy?
abstract: Tumor growth and metastasis are dependent on angiogenesis. Inhibiting angiogenesis has therapeutic potentials for treating cancer. Researchers have identified many of the pathways involved in angiogenesis and proposed selective targeted strategies. A high probability of benefit is desirable to justify the choice of anti-angiogenic therapy from an ever-expanding list of expensive new anticancer agents. However, biomarkers of response to anti-angiogenic agents are inconclusive for predicting benefit from these drugs. This paper reviews the most important biomarker of angiogenesis, namely VEGF, in relation to its expression in cancer and the treatment of these cancers through targeting VEGF and its pathways.
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Zaher K
authors: ZK
authors: Otrock
authors: Hassan A
authors: HA
authors: Hatoum
authors: Khaled M
authors: KM
authors: Musallam
authors: Ahmad H
authors: AH
authors: Awada
authors: Ali I
authors: AI
authors: Shamseddine
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases