Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 100, Issue 13, Pages 7785-7790Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1432908100
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Funding
- NCI NIH HHS [R01 CA088951, 1R01-CA088951-01A1] Funding Source: Medline
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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical promoter of blood vessel growth during embryonic development and tumorigenesis. To date, studies of VEGF antagonists have primarily focused on halting progression in models of minimal residual cancer. Consistent with this focus, recent clinical trials suggest that blockade of VEGF may impede cancer progression, presumably by preventing neoangiogenesis. However, VEGF is also a key mediator of endothelial-vascular mural cell interactions, a role that may contribute to the integrity of mature vessels in advanced tumors. Here, we report that high-affinity blockade of VEGF, using the recently described VEGF-Trap, abolishes mature, preexisting vasculature in established xenografts. Eradication of vasculature is followed by marked tumor regression, including regression of lung micrometastases. Thus, the contribution of relatively low levels of VEGF to vessel integrity may be critical to maintenance of even very small tumor masses. Potent blockade of VEGF may provide a new therapeutic option for patients with bulky, metastatic cancers.
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