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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

A Simple Bioassay for the Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
09:04

A Simple Bioassay for the Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Published on: March 15, 2016

Angiogenesis and radiation response modulation after vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) blockade

Jing Li1, Shyhmin Huang, Eric A Armstrong

  • 1Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, WI 53792-0600, USA.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
|July 21, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibits tumor angiogenesis and growth. Combining VEGFR2 blockade with radiation therapy enhances anti-tumor effects by targeting tumor vasculature.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for solid tumor growth and metastasis.
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR2 are key molecular targets for anti-angiogenic therapies due to their role in endothelial cell proliferation and migration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of VEGFR2 blockade on angiogenesis.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of VEGFR2 inhibition alone and in combination with radiation therapy in preclinical cancer models.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized monoclonal antibodies against VEGFR2 (human-specific cp1C11 and mouse-specific DC101) for molecular blockade.
  • Assessed the impact of VEGFR2 blockade on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and capillary network formation in vitro.
  • Evaluated tumor growth inhibition in human squamous cell carcinoma xenografts in athymic mice.
  • Assessed anti-angiogenic effects using an in vivo angiogenesis assay with tumor-bearing Matrigel plugs.
  • Investigated the combined effects of VEGFR2 blockade and ionizing radiation in cell cultures and xenograft models.

Main Results:

  • VEGFR2 blockade attenuated endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, disrupting capillary-like network formation.
  • VEGFR2 blockade significantly reduced the growth of human squamous cell carcinoma xenografts.
  • In vivo angiogenesis assays confirmed vascular growth inhibition following VEGFR2 blockade.
  • Combined VEGFR2 blockade and ionizing radiation demonstrated an interactive cytotoxic effect, enhancing tumor response.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular inhibition of VEGFR2 effectively targets tumor vasculature, inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor growth.
  • VEGFR2 blockade, alone or in combination with radiation, offers a promising strategy for enhancing anti-tumor efficacy through molecular targeting of tumor vasculature.

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