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Biology of angiogenesis in tumors of the gastrointestinal tract
Author(s) -
Reinmuth Niels,
Parikh Alexander A.,
Ahmad Syed A.,
Liu Wenbiao,
Stoeltzing Oliver,
Fan Fan,
Takeda Akihiko,
Akagi Morihisa,
Ellis Lee M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10258
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , thrombospondin 1 , cancer research , biology , cancer , gastrointestinal tract , vascular endothelial growth factor , immunology , medicine , vegf receptors , genetics
Abstract The realization that the growth and spread of tumors are dependent on angiogenesis has created new avenues of research designed to help us to better understand cancer biology and to facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies. However, the process of angiogenesis consists of multiple, sequential, and interdependent steps with a myriad of positive and negative regulators of angiogenesis being involved. The survival of tumors and thus their metastases are dependent upon the balance of endogenous angiogenic and anti‐angiogenic factors such that the outcome favors increased angiogenesis. Several growth factors have been identified that regulate angiogenesis in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. These include pro‐angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti‐angiogenic factors, i.e., thrombospondin. The following review provides a brief overview about the most important factors that are involved in the angiogenic process in tumors derived from colon, stomach, and pancreas. A thorough understanding of the role these factors play in the angiogenic process may lead to the development of novel therapeutic antineoplastic strategies. Microsc. Res. Tech. 60:199–207, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.