Angiogenesis as a therapeutic target in arthritis in 2011: learning the lessons of the colorectal cancer experience

Abstract

The paradigm of a therapy aimed at inhibiting the formation of blood vessels, which would consequentially deprive cells and tissues of oxygen and nutrients, was born from the concept pioneered by the late Judah Folkman that blood vessel formation is central to the progression and maintenance of diseases which involve cellular metabolism and tissue expansion, and cancer in particular. The prototype targeted angiogenesis inhibitor anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab was approved in 2004 for colorectal cancer, and has since been approved for other cancers. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, during which inflamed tissue invades and destroys cartilage and bone. The tissue expansion, invasion, expression of cytokines and growth factors and areas of hypoxia which are a feature of RA have resulted in the hypothesis that angiogenesis inhibition may also be beneficial in RA, drawing on the success of bevacizumab. This review focuses on our current understanding of the importance of angiogenesis in RA, and on the lessons which may be learnt from the clinical experiences of angiogenesis blockade, particularly in colorectal cancer.

Angiogenesis is a Link Between Atherosclerosis and Tumorigenesis: Role of LOX-1

“…Angiogenesis is an important phenomenon not only in physiological situations but also in pathological conditions like ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetic retinopathy, atherosclerosis and tumorigenesis [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. There is vast literature linking angiogenesis to atherogenesis and tumorigenesis (Fig.…”

Self-assembled nanoparticles based on the c(RGDfk) peptide for the delivery of siRNA targeting the VEGFR2 gene for tumor therapy

“…20,21 Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as vascular permeability factor, plays a vital role in the angiogenic process by binding to the specific VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2, also known as KDR/Flk-1), a tyrosine kinase receptor, which then activates downstream signaling pathways and results in the proliferation and migration of endothelial vessels, consequently promoting angiogenesis and vascular growth. [22][23][24][25][26] Therefore, inhibition of VEGFR2 mRNA expression in new vessels is an effective method of tumor therapy.…”

Vaccination approach to anti-angiogenic treatment of cancer

“…The field of angiogenesis research has expanded explosively since its nativity, mainly after (pre)clinical validation of the concept in the early 1990s. The impact of the field increased with the understanding that also other angiogenic diseases may benefit, such as rheumatoid arthritis [119], inflammatory bowel disease [107] and age-related macular degeneration [104].…”