| Popis: |
Breast cancer is a debilitating disease, which, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation will affect one in eight women. While the etiology of the disease is multi factorial, angiogenesis, the growth of new vessels from pre-existing vessels, plays a central role in the progression of the disease. Over the past few decades, research has shown that angiogenesis may be the fundamental step that transitions benign tumors into malignant tumors. Endothelial cells (ECs) secrete pro-angiogenic factors that facilitate vascular network formation, thus providing tumors with the necessary oxygen and nutrients for growth and metastasis. Angiogenesis inhibitors aim to interfere with the signaling pathways that promote tumor angiogenesis. Angiogenic inhibition may be accomplished via targeting of pro-angiogenic molecules, cell surface receptors, signaling pathways, or through inhibition of other molecular events. In addition to these emerging therapies, there are several anti-angiogenic drugs that have been proven to be clinically useful in the treatment of breast cancer. It is anticipated that research with these agents will prevent the expansion of tumor masses, cause tumor dormancy, or sustain regression of the tumor. This review aims to examine some of the most recent emerging anti-angiogenic therapies along with present clinically available anti-angiogenic drugs in the treatment of breast cancer. |
