Anti-angiogenic agents for the treatment of brain tumors

The importance of angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, has been recognized for more than 30 years. Many primary brain tumors appear to be angiogenesis dependent. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that angiogenesis inhibition may be a promising new treatment strategy for brain tumors. This article reviews the biology of angiogenesis and its role in brain tumors, discusses antiangiogenic agents in clinical trials, and presents neuroimaging approaches to the study of the angiogenic process and its inhibition.