title: Biomarkers of cancer angioprevention for clinical studies.
abstract: With the great advances made in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases over the last century, chronic degenerative diseases-cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and cancer-represent the major causes of death in the developed world. Although massive efforts and investments have been made in cancer therapy, the progress made towards reducing mortality has been more successful for cardiovascular disease than for tumours. This can be attributable largely to an active prevention approach implemented for cardiovascular disease. Cardiologists treat their patients before the overt disease becomes life threatening, performing early interventions in phenotypically healthy patients, by using several markers that predict risk. If the concept of prevention could be applied to cancer in a more extensive way, a significant number of tumours could be avoided through preventive measures. Prevention approaches range from avoiding tobacco exposure to dietary strategies to active pharmacological approaches in higher risk groups. Host targets rather than the tumour cells themselves are attractive for chemoprevention, in particular endothelial and immune cells. Angioprevention i.e. preventing cancer angiogenesis is a key concept that we introduced; yet one of the major current challenges for anti-angiogenesis in therapy and prevention is finding the right biomarkers. Here we discuss the importance of angioprevention and the potential use of VEGF, PlGF, CD31, Ang and Tie, circulating vascular cell precursors, and microRNA as potential biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Research and Statistics, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia 42123, Italy ; These authors share equal contribution.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Haematology-Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan 20141, Italy ; These authors share equal contribution.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertolini
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bassani
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Research and Statistics, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia 42123, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Research and Statistics, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia 42123, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano Giuseppe
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Caraffi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Department of Research and Statistics, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia 42123, Italy.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maramotti
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan 20138, Italy ; Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese 21100, Italy.
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Noonan
keywords: angiogenesis; chemoprevention; circulating endothelial cells; inflammation; therapy