
pmid: 17324579
Vascular endothelial cells are ordinarily quiescent in adult humans and divide less than once per decade. When tumors reach a size of about 0.2-2.0mm in diameter, they become hypoxic and limited in size in the absence of angiogenesis. There are about 30 endogenous pro-angiogenic factors and about 30 endogenous anti-angiogenic factors. In order to increase in size, tumors undergo an angiogenic switch where the action of pro-angiogenic factors predominates, resulting in angiogenesis and tumor progression. One mechanism for driving angiogenesis results from the increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) following up-regulation of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor. The human VEGF family consists of VEGF (VEGF-A), VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and placental growth factor (PlGF). The VEGF family of receptors consists of three protein-tyrosine kinases and two non-protein kinase receptors (neuropilin-1 and -2). Owing to the importance of angiogenesis in tumor progression, inhibition of VEGF signaling represents an attractive cancer treatment.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Neoplasms, Humans, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Neuropilins, Oncogenes
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Neoplasms, Humans, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Neuropilins, Oncogenes
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