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Anti-angiogenesis therapy in cancer: current challenges and future perspectives

Farbod Shojaei1

  • 1Oncology Research Unit, Pfizer La Jolla, CA 92121, United States. Farbod.shojaei@pfizer.com

Cancer Letters
|March 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Anti-angiogenic drugs show promise for metastatic colorectal cancer but face challenges like resistance and invasiveness. Developing predictive biomarkers is crucial for effective patient stratification and treatment monitoring.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first anti-angiogenic drug, bevacizumab, for metastatic colorectal cancer treatment nearly nine years ago.
  • Since then, other angiogenesis inhibitors have been approved or are in clinical trials, expanding therapeutic options.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a concise update on recent findings regarding anti-angiogenic therapies for cancer.
  • To address the major drawbacks and challenges associated with anti-angiogenic agents.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes information from recent clinical and preclinical investigations.
  • It examines molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the challenges of anti-angiogenic therapy.

Main Results:

  • Key challenges include inherent/acquired resistance to anti-angiogenic drugs and the induction of tumor invasiveness.
  • A significant hurdle is the lack of validated predictive biomarkers for patient stratification and treatment response monitoring.

Conclusions:

  • Despite therapeutic advancements, resistance and invasiveness remain significant issues in anti-angiogenic therapy.
  • The development and validation of predictive biomarkers are essential for optimizing patient selection and monitoring treatment efficacy.

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