VEGF inhibition: insights from preclinical and clinical studies

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is required for a variety of normal proliferative processes. Furthermore, angiogenesis is well established as also playing an important role in neoplastic growth and metastasis. Numerous regulators of angiogenesis have been identified and characterized over the last few decades. Among these, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A appears especially important in several pathophysiological processes. Several VEGF inhibitors have been approved, by the US Food and Drug Administration, for the treatment of tumors or age-releted macular degeneration. This review examines the various mouse tumor models in which VEGF inhibitors have been tested and the lessons learned from these studies.