title: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in breast cancer.
abstract: Neo-angiogenesis is a critical process for tumor growth and invasion and has become a promising target in cancer therapy. This manuscript reviews three currently relevant anti-angiogenic agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor system: bevacizumab, ramucirumab and sorafenib. The efficacy of anti-angiogenic drugs in adjuvant therapy or as neo-adjuvant treatment has been estimated in clinical trials of advanced breast cancer. To date, the overall observed clinical improvements are unconvincing, and further research is required to demonstrate the efficacy of anti-angiogenic drugs in breast cancer treatments. The outcomes of anti-angiogenic therapy have been highly variable in terms of tumor response. New methods are needed to identify patients who will benefit from this regimen. The development of biomarkers and molecular profiling are relevant research areas that may strengthen the ability to focus anti-angiogenic therapy towards suitable patients, thereby increase the cost-effectiveness, currently estimated to be inadequate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark. tinakristensen@studmed.au.dk.
authors.forename: Tina Bøgelund
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark. malin.knutsson@studmed.au.dk.
authors.forename: Malin L T
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Knutsson
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, Magdeburg D-39120, Germany. markus.wehland@med.ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wehland
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark. britt@biomed.au.dk.
authors.forename: Britt Elmedal
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark. dgg@biomed.au.dk.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, Magdeburg D-39120, Germany. elisabeth.warnke@med.ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Warnke
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Nørrebrogade 44, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark. nm@clin.au.dk.
authors.forename: Nils E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Magnusson
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A