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Updated: May 2, 2026
Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo
Published on: July 20, 2019
Metabolic effects of antiangiogenic drugs in tumors: therapeutic implications
Luigi Quintieri1, Mohamed Selmy2, Stefano Indraccolo3
1Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
Antiangiogenic therapy has become a mainstay of cancer therapeutics, but clinical responses are generally short-term owing to the development of secondary resistance. Tumor starvation by antiangiogenic drugs is largely attributed to increased hypoxia and impaired nutrients supply, suggesting that angiogenesis inhibition causes remarkable metabolic perturbations in the tumor microenvironment. We review here recent acquisitions concerning metabolic effects of angiogenesis blockade in tumors and discuss the possibility that some metabolic features of tumor cells - i.e. their dependency from glucose as primary energy substrate - might affect tumor responses to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Moreover, we discuss the hypothesis that anti-angiogenic therapy might foster metabolic evolution of tumors. The therapeutic implications of this hypothesis will be discussed further here.
Insights
Antiangiogenic therapy faces short-term responses due to resistance. This review explores how inhibiting tumor angiogenesis impacts tumor metabolism and may drive resistance, suggesting metabolic adaptations influence treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Metabolism
- Tumor Microenvironment
Background:
- Antiangiogenic therapy is a primary cancer treatment.
- Clinical responses are often limited by acquired resistance.
- Angiogenesis inhibition causes tumor hypoxia and nutrient deprivation, altering tumor metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review metabolic effects of angiogenesis blockade in tumors.
- To discuss how tumor cell metabolic features influence response to anti-VEGF therapy.
- To explore the hypothesis that anti-angiogenic therapy promotes tumor metabolic evolution.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent findings.
- Analysis of metabolic perturbations in the tumor microenvironment.
- Discussion of tumor cell metabolic dependencies, such as glucose utilization.
Main Results:
- Angiogenesis inhibition significantly perturbs tumor metabolism.
- Tumor cell reliance on glucose may impact response to anti-VEGF agents.
- Anti-angiogenic therapy might drive adaptive metabolic changes in tumors.
Conclusions:
- Understanding tumor metabolic adaptations is crucial for overcoming resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy.
- Targeting tumor metabolism alongside angiogenesis inhibition may improve therapeutic efficacy.
- Further research into the metabolic evolution of tumors under anti-angiogenic treatment is warranted.
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