An integrative model for vascular endothelial growth factor A as a tumour biomarker.
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and its cognate receptors are central to the regulation of angiogenesis in both physiological and pathological states. In cancer, local tumour hypoxia stimulates VEGF-A synthesis and VEGF-A levels are subsequently elevated in a wide variety of cancers. VEGF-A thus has enormous potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of disease status. The justification of VEGF-A as a biomarker has not yet been achieved, primarily due to our lack of understanding of its multiple splice variants and its spatio-temporal distribution. Here we highlight how recent technological advancements and kinetic-dynamic modelling could be used towards validating VEGF-A as a biomarker for clinical use in human disease management.
Latham
Antony M
AM
Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Molina-París
Carmen
C
Homer-Vanniasinkam
Shervanthi
S
Ponnambalam
Sreenivasan
S
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A