title: The mechanisms that regulate the localization and overexpression of VEGF receptor-2 are promising therapeutic targets in cancer biology.
abstract: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family has been proposed to be the most important signaling protein family in vessel formation and maturation. VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) plays an abundant role in the most common forms of cancer. The localization of VEGFR-2 expression is important in cancer pathogenesis; however, so far, little attention has been paid to this phenomenon. Induced cytoplasmic VEGFR-2 transition from the nucleus is associated with poor prognostic cancer stages. Current VEGFR-2-targeted therapy approaches are effective in inhibiting or arresting tumor growth. Moreover, VEGFR-2-targeted therapy was demonstrated to restore the abnormal vasculature in tumors, enhancing their susceptibility toward conventional therapy. Most effects can be found when VEGFR-2-targeted therapy inhibits not only the induced angiogenesis but also the cancer cells that sometimes overexpress VEGFR-2. Nevertheless, we still have little knowledge about the mechanisms that regulate VEGFR-2 expression and how its localization is exactly involved in cancer prognosis. Further research and evaluation of VEGFR-2 regulation and its nuclear transition is necessary to develop more accurate therapeutic strategies to improve the patients' quality of life and their survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. k.r.kampen@umcg.nl
authors.forename: Kim R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kampen
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2