Response to anti-angiogenesis: an ever changing feature.
OBJECTIVE
Anti-angiogenic drugs have gained international approval for the therapy of advanced breast, lung, colo-rectal, kidney and central nervous system cancer. However, the clinical benefit associated with the use of these drugs has been so far limited.


METHODS
This review discuss the possible rational developments of a new generation anti-angiogenic drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Since most of the biological and clinical activity of the currently available generation of anti-angiogenic drugs targets VEGF and its related pathways, it seems relevant to (1) better understand mechanisms of resistance and/or escape from anti-VEGF and (2) identify and validate vascular targets complementary to anti-VEGF.
Laboratory of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pathology, European Institute of Oncology, 20141 Milan, Italy. francesco.bertolini@ieo.it
Francesco
F
Bertolini
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A