科研之友
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摘要
Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation, is required for tumor growth and metastasis. There is also substantial clinical evidence supporting the central role of angiogenesis in tumor progression. Thus, the inhibition of angiogenesis may provide more efficacious treatment for patients with advanced gynecological malignancies. A number of possible therapeutic targets for anti-angiogenic agents have been identified. The results of recent experimental studies have suggested that the frequent administration of certain chemotherapeutic agents at low doses, known as "metronomic chemotherapy", may result in anti-angiogenic effects. The central importance of tumor neovascularization has been emphasized by clinical trials using anti-angiogenic therapy. The humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF, bevacizurnab, is the clinically most mature of the anti-angiogenic agents. Recently, a large phase III clinical trial demonstrated a significant benefit in progression-free survival with the addition of anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizurnab to paclitaxel for the first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer. This study established that anti-angiogenic therapy is effective in breast cancer. Additional studies on bevacizurnab, i.e. on its application in ovarian cancer, are underway. A variety of other anti-angiogenic agents are currently under clinical investigation and novel angiogenesis inhibitors are being developed. This article reviews the role of angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of cancer and the current treatment strategies for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.
- 出版日期2008-4
