title: Hemangiomas - current therapeutic strategies.
abstract: Hemangiomas are benign neoplasms of the vasculature frequently encountered in children. Several studies have shown that these tumors are characterized by excessive angiogenesis. Although benign, the lesions can present with complications, and may thus require treatment. There are multiple therapeutic options available for patients with problematic or life threatening hemangiomas, some of which have serious side effects. Randomized clinical trials and evidence-based studies on the efficacy of these treatments is still lacking. The recognition that excessive angiogenesis underlies hemangiogenesis offers an opportunity for the development of safer therapeutic strategies that are based on the inhibition of angiogenesis. We review medical therapies currently employed in the management of hemangiomas and the role of angiogenesis inhibition in hemangioma therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa. peace.mabeta@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Peace
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mabeta
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pepper
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013256:Steroids; D001761:Bleomycin; D013792:Thalidomide; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007372:Interferons; D011433:Propranolol