Targeting vascular endothelial growth factor in angina therapy

Abstract

Despite tremendous success of growth factor therapy in animal models, clinical trials have demonstrated minimal success. Vascular endothelial growth factors are perhaps the most potent inducers of angiogenesis in these animal models. This review outlines the biology of vascular endothelial growth factors in the context of myocardial angiogenesis with an emphasis on its effects on the endothelium. It also provides an overview of delivery strategies and summarises the preclinical and clinical evidence relating to exogenous growth factor delivery for myocardial angiogenesis with an emphasis on the key future challenges.

Keywords::

• angiogenesis
• clinical trial
• endothelium
• myocardial ischaemia
• vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

Acknowledgements

Dr Sellke is funded by the grant R01 HL69024 from the National Institutes of Health. Dr Boodhwani is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (HL04095-06) and the Irving Bard Memorial Fellowship.