title: Anti-angiogenic treatment in breast cancer: Facts, successes, failures and future perspectives.
abstract: Angiogenesis is one of the hallmarks of cancer and a crucial requisite in the development of tumors. Interrupting this process by blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab has been considered a possible breakthrough in the treatment of various types of cancer, especially for advanced disease. However in breast cancer, studies have shown ambivalent results causing debate about the value of this drug. In this article, we review the evidence for anti-angiogenic treatment options for breast cancer, as well as discuss the possible factors limiting the effectiveness of anti-angiogenic agents and offer a recommendation regarding the future research on these therapies for the treatment of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: kim.aalders@eortc.be.
authors.forename: Kim C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Aalders
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tryfonidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Senkus
authors.affiliation: Breast Unit, Champalimaud Cancer Center, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: fatimacardoso@fundacaochampalimaud.pt.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000068258:Bevacizumab
keywords: Angiogenesis; Bevacizumab; Breast cancer; Ramucirumab; Sorafenib; Sunitinib; VEGF