Chapter 6. Mouse models to investigate anti-cancer effects of VEGF inhibitors

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