Antiangiogenesis therapy: an update after the first decade.
- Author:
Sandro DE FALCO
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: Angiogenesis; Neoplasms; Macular degeneration; Antibodies, monoclonal; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor
- MeSH: Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*therapeutic use; Humans; Macular Degeneration/drug therapy; Molecular Targeted Therapy/*trends; Neoplasms/drug therapy; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism; Neovascularization, Physiologic
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine 2014;29(1):1-11
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Angiogenesis is a complex biological phenomenon that forms new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature. Aberrant angiogenesis has been implicated in a variety of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, arthritis, obesity, pulmonary hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. These conditions collectively affect nearly 10% of the global population. Much effort has focused on identifying new therapeutic agents that inhibit pathological angiogenesis since 1971, when Judah Folkman published the hypothesis that tumor growth is angiogenesis-dependent and that its inhibition may be therapeutic. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first antiangiogenic drug for the treatment of metastatic colon cancer, bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech). This drug is a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the vascular endothelial growth factor. It is used in combination with chemotherapy, and its use began the era of antiangiogenesis therapy. Several new therapeutic agents have been added to the list of approved drugs, and clinical trials of new therapeutic options and antiangiogenic agents are ongoing. This review describes the progress made in the first decade of antiangiogenesis therapy, and addresses both validated and possible targets for future drug development.
