Therapeutic inhibition of angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, or the growth of new blood vessels, has, in recent years, become an area of intense scientific research. The primary reason for this has been the realization that angiogenesis plays a key role in many common pathologies, and that its inhibition could have profound implications in the treatment of these disorders. A substantial number of anti-angiogenic agents have now been identified; however, none has, as of yet, achieved widespread acceptance in the clinic. Many agents have been identified as the result of clearly defined research programs, such as the inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors, but many other simply by screening. The purpose of this article is to review the wealth of information available on known anti-angiogenic agents and to assess their future potential.