Evaluation of Novel Agent Which Target Neovasculature of Breast Tumors
Abstract
Biological studies examining the development of the vascular tree in normal development and in disease states have identified numerous cytokines and their receptors responsible for triggering and maintaining this process (1-7). Tumor neovascularization is central not only to the growth and development of the primary lesion but appears to be a critical factor in the development and maintenance of metastases (8-12). Clinical studies in bladder cancer (9) have demonstrated a correlation between micro-vessel density and metastases. In addition, studies of breast cancer metastases by Fox et al. and Aranda et al. (11-12) have demonstrated that microvessel count in primary tumors appears to be related to the presence of metastases in lymph nodes and micrometastases in bone marrow. The cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptors Flt-1 and KDR have been implicated as one of the central mediators of normal angiogenesis and tumor neovascularization (13-20). Up-regulation or over-expression of the KDR receptors or the VEGF-A ligand itself have been implicated as poor prognostic markers in various clinical studies of colon, breast and pituitary cancers (21-23). Recently, Padro et al. (24) have suggested that both VEGF-A and KDR may play a role in the neovascularization observed in bone marrow during AML tumor progression and may provide evidence that the VEGF/KDR pathway is important in leukemic growth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA417035
Entities
People
- Michael G. Rosenblum
Organizations
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center