Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 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

Vascular endothelial growth factor as an anti-angiogenic target for cancer therapy

Gang Niu1, Xiaoyuan Chen

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institute of Health, 9 Memorial Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. niug@mail.nih.gov

Current Drug Targets
|April 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Targeting tumor angiogenesis via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies shows promise. Molecular imaging of the VEGF pathway aids drug development and personalized cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis depend on new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis).
  • The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway is crucial for regulating tumor angiogenesis.
  • VEGF is a validated therapeutic target in various human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current therapeutic agents targeting VEGF for cancer treatment.
  • To explore the applications of VEGF-related molecular imaging in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical and clinical studies on VEGF inhibitors.
  • Analysis of literature on molecular imaging techniques for the VEGF pathway.

Main Results:

  • Various agents (antibodies, aptamers, peptides, small molecules) targeting VEGF have been developed, with some FDA-approved and others in clinical trials.
  • Combination therapies are being investigated for enhanced tumor control.
  • Molecular imaging of the VEGF pathway offers real-time information for drug development, patient stratification, and monitoring therapeutic effects.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting VEGF is a key strategy in cancer therapy.
  • VEGF-related molecular imaging holds significant potential for advancing personalized cancer medicine and accelerating drug development.

More Related Videos

Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells09:03

Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells

Published on: November 23, 2014

Preparation Of Neovascular Tissues from Human Glioma Tissues for Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Tumor Angiogenesis09:33

Preparation Of Neovascular Tissues from Human Glioma Tissues for Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Tumor Angiogenesis

Published on: March 20, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Mechanism of Angiogenesis01:10

Mechanism of Angiogenesis

Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.