Putting the brakes on angiogenesis through a novel VEGF–KLH (kinoid) vaccine

Abstract

Evaluation of: Rad FH, Buanec HL, Paturance S et al. VEGF–kinoid vaccine, a therapeutic approach against tumor angiogenesis and metastases. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 104(8), 2837–2842 (2007).

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. Of the several known angiogenic factors, VEGF is an important mediator of tumor-induced angiogenesis and represents a potential target for innovative anticancer therapy. Recently, humanized monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody (bevacizumab) has been approved by the US FDA for combinatorial therapies with cytotoxic drugs in metastatic colorectal cancer. However, adverse side effects and enormous costs are associated with the use and delivery of bevacizumab. In the study under evaluation, Rad et al. demonstrated an alternative approach by using active immunization in mice with a novel VEGF–kinoid vaccine. The authors observed that the antitumor effects elicited by their vaccine were as effective as bevacizumab in xenografted-tumor mouse models.

Keywords::

• angiogenesis
• bevacizumab
• immunotherapy
• kinoid
• metastasis
• VEGF-KLH

Financial Disclosure

The authors have no relevant financial interests related to this manuscript, including employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.