Angiogenesis in Head and Neck Cancer: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Angiogenesis is a necessary process for tumor growth, progression and diffusion. In the last years many efforts have been made to understand the mechanisms necessary to the formation of new vessels in tumor tissue and how to integrate these findings in the treatment of different type of cancer. Thanks to these studies there are today many anti-angiogenic drugs with established activity in cancer and approved in clinical practice. Head and neck cancer is a common tumor worldwide that often has advanced stage at diagnosis and poor prognosis. Angiogenesis has a well recognized role in head and neck cancer progression and resistance to drugs and radiotherapy and many clinical trials has been conducted with antiangiogenic agents in this disease, even if they often showed limited efficacy. In this review we summarize the main trials published about angiogenesis in head and neck cancer with particular attention to factors involved in this process and the available data on the efficacy of treatment with anti-angiogenic agents in this disease.

Toward the use of precision medicine for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…VEGF has been identified as an independent prognostic factor for HNSCC [94, 95]. Angiogenesis is critical for tumor growth and metastasis, and becomes an important target of anticancer treatment.…”

Prognostic value of blood and lymphatic vessel markers in tongue cancer: A systematic review

“…Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis promote cancer cell growth and metastasis . Metastasis is estimated to be responsible for approximately 90% of cancer‐associated deaths .…”

“…In fact, some cancers metastasize by utilizing both the blood and lymphatic vessels simultaneously, whereas others, such as TSCC, prioritize spreading through lymphatic routes to the sentinel lymph nodes . In this context, both MVD and LVD were successfully used as parameters to study the tumor biology, prognosticators, and therapeutic targets in several cancers including HNSCC . The assessment of such vascular parameters is often facilitated by the use of well‐established immunohistochemical antibodies (Abs).…”

“…9,11 In this context, both MVD and LVD were successfully used as parameters to study the tumor biology, prognosticators, and therapeutic targets in several cancers including HNSCC. [12][13][14][15] The assessment of such vascular parameters is often facilitated by the use of well-established immunohistochemical antibodies (Abs). These Abs include a variety of blood vessel markers, such as CD34, CD31, CD105 (endoglin), and FVIII in addition to markers for lymphatic vessels, such as D2-40 (podoplanin) and LYVE-1.…”

Image Analysis in Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy Images of Transgenic Zebrafish Vascular Development

“…Vasculogenesis is de novo formation of a basic vascular system via the migration and differentiation of progenitors, called haemangioblasts [3], while angiogenesis describes remodelling and refinement from existing vessels throughout an organisms lifespan [4,5]. In a pathological context, these processes are associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, vasculopathies or stroke [6] as well as cancer growth, progression and metastasis [7].…”