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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells
Published on: November 23, 2014
Circulating and imaging markers for angiogenesis
Arvind P Pathak1, Warren E Hochfeld, Simon L Goodman
1JHU ICMIC Program, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. pathak@mri.jhu.edu
Abstract:
Abundant preclinical and indirect clinical data have for several decades convincingly supported the notion that anti-angiogenesis is an effective strategy for the inhibition of tumor growth. The recent success achieved in patients with metastatic colon carcinoma using a neutralizing antibody directed against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has translated preclinical optimism into a clinical reality.With this transformation in the field of angiogenesis has come a need for reliable surrogate markers. A surrogate marker by definition serves as a substitute for the underlying process in question, and in the case of angiogenesis, microvessel density (usually in so-called "hot-spots") has until now been the most widely used parameter. However, this parameter is more akin to a static "snap-shot" and does not lend itself either to the dynamic in situ assessment of the status of the tumor microvasculature or to the molecular factors that regulate its growth and involution. This has led to an acute need for developing circulating and imaging markers of angiogenesis that can be monitored in vivo at repeated intervals in large number of patients with a variety of tumors in a non-invasive manner. Such markers of angiogenesis are the subject of this review.
Insights
Anti-angiogenesis therapy shows promise for inhibiting tumor growth, validated by recent successes in colon cancer. New circulating and imaging markers are needed to dynamically monitor tumor angiogenesis in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Anti-angiogenesis is a validated strategy for inhibiting tumor growth, supported by preclinical and clinical data.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) neutralizing antibodies have shown success in metastatic colon carcinoma patients.
- The clinical success of anti-angiogenesis necessitates reliable surrogate markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the need for reliable markers of angiogenesis.
- To discuss the limitations of current markers like microvessel density.
- To explore the development of circulating and imaging markers for in vivo monitoring of angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and clinical data on anti-angiogenesis.
- Analysis of the utility of microvessel density as a surrogate marker.
- Discussion on the requirements for novel circulating and imaging markers.
Main Results:
- Microvessel density is a static "snap-shot" and insufficient for dynamic assessment.
- There is an acute need for non-invasive, in vivo markers of angiogenesis.
- Circulating and imaging markers are required for repeated monitoring in diverse tumor types.
Conclusions:
- Anti-angiogenesis is a clinically relevant cancer treatment strategy.
- Current markers for angiogenesis lack dynamic and in vivo assessment capabilities.
- Development of novel circulating and imaging markers is crucial for effective monitoring and management of angiogenesis in cancer.
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