Current status and future prospects for anti-angiogenic therapies in cancer

Abstract

Background: Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and development and since the pioneering work of Judah Folkman several anti-angiogenic strategies have now been successfully employed. Objective: This article aims to present a detailed review of current knowledge of the main pathways involved in angiogenesis, the strategies employed for inhibition and the current status of angiogenesis inhibitors in therapeutic use. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken including angiogenesis in cancer and angiogenesis inhibitors in pre-clinical and clinical trials. Conclusion: While angiogenic inhibitors are now in clinical use, their limited benefits mean we must urgently develop strategies to improve the efficacy of this approach.

Keywords::

• anti-angiogenic agents
• bevacizumab
• cancer
• cetuximab
• clinical trials
• erlotinib
• sunitinib
• VEGF