Tumour angiogenesis and ferroptosis: A metabolic oxidative stress-driven aberrant vascularisation and therapeutic...

Tumour angiogenesis, a hallmark of cancer progression, involves the formation of new vasculature to sustain malignant growth. It is driven by complex molecular signalling networks responsive to hypoxia, inflammation, and metabolic stress. This article is an attempt to analyse and integrate recent insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis, its diagnostic and therapeutic implications, and its emerging intersection with ferroptosis - an iron-dependent, regulated form of cell death. Key pathways such as VEGF, PDGF, IGF, TGF-β and their downstream effectors such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, ERK, etc., as well as molecular regulators linking oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation to angiogenic responses, are crucial in framing the tumour microenvironment. Understanding these pathways provides a foundation for developing novel combinatorial strategies targeting both angiogenesis and ferroptosis for improved cancer therapy.