Realizing the Potential of Vascular Targeted Therapy: The Rationale for Combining Vascular Disrupting Agents and Anti-Angiogenic Agents to Treat Cancer

ABSTRACT

Vascular targeted therapies (VTTs) are agents that target tumor vasculature and can be classified into two categories: those that inhibit angiogenesis and those that directly interfere with established tumor vasculature. Although both the anti-angiogenic agents (AAs) and the vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) target tumor vasculature, they differ in their mechanism of action and therapeutic application. Combining these two agents may realize the full potential of VTT and produce an effective therapeutic regimen. Here, we review AAs and VDAs (monotherapy and in combination with conventional therapies). We also discuss the rationale of combined VTT and its potential to treat cancer.

KEYWORDS:

• Anti-angiogenic agent
• combretastatin A4-phosphate
• vascular disrupting agent
• vascular targeted therapy

Declaration of interest

We have read and understood Cancer Investigations policy on declaration of interests and declare the following potential conflict of interest: Chaplin D.J. is currently employed by Mateon Therapeutics. DWS and MRH report no declarations of interest.

Dr. Susan J. Cravero from Link Health Group, LLC, provided editorial support, funded by Mateon Therapeutics.

This article is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, and its publication is approved by all authors.