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Antiangiogenic chemotherapeutic agents.
1Research Laboratories of Schering AG, Berlin, Germany. michael.schirner@schering.de
Cancer Metastasis Reviews
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Anticancer drugs may inhibit tumor growth by blocking blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). Continuous, tightly spaced drug application shows strong antiangiogenic effects, warranting further clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Anticancer chemotherapeutic agents primarily target tumor cell proliferation.
- Increased endothelial cell proliferation in tumors suggests a role for anti-angiogenesis in chemotherapy.
- The antiangiogenic potential of various chemotherapeutic agents has been investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the antiangiogenic effects of chemotherapeutic agents.
- To determine if inhibiting tumor angiogenesis contributes to chemotherapy's therapeutic efficacy.
- To evaluate the impact of different drug application schedules on antiangiogenic activity.
Main Methods:
- Testing numerous anticancer chemotherapeutic agents for antiangiogenic potential.
- Investigating the efficacy of different drug application schedules.
- Assessing the antiangiogenic effect by measuring tumor endothelial cell apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Some agents demonstrate consistent inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, even in drug-resistant tumors.
- Tightly spaced, continuous drug application schedules exhibit a strong antiangiogenic effect.
- This enhanced antiangiogenic effect is associated with increased tumor endothelial cell apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Chemotherapeutic agents may exert therapeutic effects by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.
- Continuous, tightly spaced drug administration is a promising strategy for antiangiogenesis.
- Further clinical trials are necessary to validate novel combination chemotherapies and application schedules.