Vascular endothelial growth factor in breast cancer: biologic and therapeutic aspects

Angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, is known to be an important part of the malignant phenotype in most cancers, including breast cancer. Recent years have seen the discovery of many regulators of the angiogenic process. Foremost among these is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the ligand for a family of specific transmembrane receptors that regulate the angiogenic process. This article describes the role of VEGF and its receptors in angiogenesis (both physiologic and pathologic), and describes efforts to target VEGF and its receptor. It discusses the outcome of some early trials involving VEGF-targeting agents, and reviews future therapeutic trials involving VEGF in breast cancer.