The VEGF/Rho GTPase signalling pathway: a promising target for anti-angiogenic/anti-invasion therapy.
It has become increasingly apparent that current antiangiogenic therapy elicits modest effects in clinical settings. In addition, it remains challenging to treat cancer metastasis through antiangiogenic regimes. Rho GTPases are essential for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis and are involved in tumour cell invasion. This review discusses novel therapeutic strategies that interfere with Rho GTPase signalling and further explores this network as a target for anticancer therapy through interference with tumour angiogenesis and invasion. Recent findings describe the development of innovative Rho GTPase inhibitors. Positive clinical effects of Rho GTPase targeting in combination with conventional anticancer therapy is of increasing interest.
Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Roy
R
van der Meel
Marc H
MH
Symons
Robert
R
Kudernatsch
Robbert J
RJ
Kok
Raymond M
RM
Schiffelers
Gert
G
Storm
William M
WM
Gallagher
Annette T
AT
Byrne
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins