Infantile hemangioma-mechanism(s) of drug action on a vascular tumor.
Infantile hemangioma (IH), a benign vascular tumor, is the most common tumor of infancy, with an incidence of 5%-10% at the end of the first year. The tumor displays a distinctive life cycle consisting of a proliferating phase, occurring in the first months of life, followed by an involuting phase. Thus, IH represents a unique model of postnatal vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and vessel regression. Traditionally, corticosteroids were the drug of choice when treatment of IH was indicated. In recent years, beta-blockers, most specifically propranolol, have serendipitously been shown to be an effective pharmacological treatment. This article will focus on the mechanism of action of these two drugs, the old and the new treatments, in slowing the growth and accelerating involution of IH.
Department of Dermatology and Sheba Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan 52621, Israel.
Shoshana
S
Greenberger
Joyce
J
Bischoff
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011433:Propranolol