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Evaluating the Angiogenetic Properties of Ovarian Cancer Stem-Like Cells using the Three-Dimensional Co-Culture System, NICO-1
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Anti-vascular therapies in ovarian cancer: moving beyond anti-VEGF approaches

Hyun-Jin Choi1, Guillermo N Armaiz Pena, Sunila Pradeep

  • 1Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Cancer Metastasis Reviews
|December 30, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Ovarian cancer chemotherapy resistance is a major challenge. Targeting the tumor microenvironment and combining therapies may overcome resistance, but new targets are needed.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer is a significant clinical challenge.
  • Tumor microenvironment targeting is a promising therapeutic strategy due to stromal cell homogeneity.
  • Anti-angiogenic therapies, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), show modest efficacy due to pathway redundancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore strategies for overcoming chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer.
  • To investigate the role of tumor microenvironment and angiogenic pathways in therapeutic resistance.
  • To highlight the potential of combination therapies and novel target discovery.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ovarian cancer resistance mechanisms.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways involved in angiogenesis and therapy resistance, including VEGF, PDGF, FGF, and EGF.
  • Discussion of the impact of hypoxia on tumor and stromal cells.

Main Results:

  • Redundant angiogenic pathways (PDGF, FGF, EGF) can compensate for VEGF blockade, leading to resistance.
  • Hypoxia induced by anti-angiogenesis therapy alters signaling pathways, contributing to resistance.
  • Tumor cell heterogeneity and pathway redundancy necessitate combination therapeutic approaches.

Conclusions:

  • Combining cytotoxic and targeted therapies, or targeting multiple pathways, may overcome resistance.
  • Further research is crucial for discovering new therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer.
  • Identifying patient subgroups most likely to benefit from targeted therapies is essential for maximizing treatment impact.

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