Growth factor-induced therapeutic angiogenesis in the heart: protein therapy

Therapeutic angiogenesis, stimulated growth of new vasculature to compensate for tissue ischemia, remains an unfulfilled promise. After nearly a decade of trials, the development of drugs capable of stimulating revascularization of underperfused tissues remains an exciting but unrealized goal in cardiovascular therapeutics. This review will summarize experiences in therapeutic angiogenesis studies employing protein therapies and will draw conclusions based on our current understanding of biological processes of new vessel growth. (C) 2004 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.