title: Biology of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in head and neck cancer: beyond angiogenesis.
abstract: Angiogenesis is a necessary process for tumor progression and is driven through molecular interactions between cancer cells and neighboring vascular endothelial cells. The primary mediators of angiogenesis are the vascular endothelial growth factors and their respective receptors on endothelial cells. There are several U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-angiogenic agents in clinical use. In head and neck cancer there are clinical trials assessing the efficacy of anti-angiogenic agents in combination with chemoradiation therapy. Although the aforementioned growth factors and receptors have been traditionally viewed as anti-angiogenic targets, there are concomitant efforts to understand the role these molecules play within the tumor cells. In this review, we first discuss the biology of angiogenic proteins and the targeting of angiogenic molecules for cancer treatment. We summarize the current clinical trials of anti-angiogenic therapies in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, the additional role these molecules play in tumor progression independent of angiogenesis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oto-rhino-laryngology, Department of Surgery, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christopoulos
authors.forename: Sun M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jonah D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Seungwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor