In people with cancer angiogenesis involves the growth of tiny new blood vessels to generate a blood supply for tumors. This process has been shown to play an important role in the growth, proliferation and spread of prostate cancer tumors.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a chemical signal produced by cells that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. VEGF Inhibitors are a class of therapies that target the VEGF chemical pathway, aiming to prevent angiogenisis and tumor vascularization.
An article in Curr Mol Pharmacol. discusses this "major angiogenic signaling pathway involving VEGF in prostate cancer progression and the role of various promising agents that target this pathway."
The article focuses on bevacizumab (Avastin), thalidomide and its analogues (primarily Revlimid), tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib and AZD2171, and other inhibitors of angiogenic signaling pathways.
"Results of key clinical trials associated with the use of these agents and future directions are discussed herein."
This is an important article for patients with advanced prostate cancer to be aware of. It might be a useful article to take to the oncologist's office to talk over. It is especially relevant for patients who are undergoing taxane therapy or looking at that as a next step and who want to know what other options are available before or after.
Patients active in support groups might want to discuss this article and related materials and to consider calling in a speaker qualified to lead discussion.
SOURCE: Free text article at pubmedcentral.nih.govl:
VEGF Inhibitors and Prostate Cancer Therapy
Jeanny B. Aragon-Ching and William L. Dahut
Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
Medical Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2009 June 1; 2(2): 161–168.