TY - JOUR
T1 - Antiangiogenic drugs currently used for colorectal cancer
T2 - What other pathways can we target to prolong responses?
AU - Abbadessa, Giovanni
AU - Vogiatzi, Paraskevi
AU - Rimassa, Lorenza
AU - Claudio, Pier Paolo
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Angiogenesis plays a key role in facilitating tumor growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer. Considerable progress has been made in identifying molecular components to develop angiogenesis-based treatments. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways are specific and critical regulators of angiogenesis. However, other pathways are indirectly involved in angiogenesis promotion and recent studies have confirmed it. This review discusses known mechanisms involved in the action of angiogenesis-related targeted drugs such as cetuximab (Erbitux™) and bevacizumab (Avastin™), in patients affected by colorectal cancer. It also elucidates the role of oxygen levels in cancer cell damage as well as known alternative pathways used by tumoral cells to escape hypoxic-related death. Hypoxia may in fact select resistant sub-clones and boost tumor progression and growth, while the main subsequent damages may be conferred by eventual re-oxygenation. Therefore, in the light of the consolidated data available from the use of antiangiogenic drugs, we discuss about a paradox that is forming: in the war against tumoral angiogenesis it will be necessary to fight also the hypoxic condition caused by the antiangiogenic drugs.
AB - Angiogenesis plays a key role in facilitating tumor growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer. Considerable progress has been made in identifying molecular components to develop angiogenesis-based treatments. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways are specific and critical regulators of angiogenesis. However, other pathways are indirectly involved in angiogenesis promotion and recent studies have confirmed it. This review discusses known mechanisms involved in the action of angiogenesis-related targeted drugs such as cetuximab (Erbitux™) and bevacizumab (Avastin™), in patients affected by colorectal cancer. It also elucidates the role of oxygen levels in cancer cell damage as well as known alternative pathways used by tumoral cells to escape hypoxic-related death. Hypoxia may in fact select resistant sub-clones and boost tumor progression and growth, while the main subsequent damages may be conferred by eventual re-oxygenation. Therefore, in the light of the consolidated data available from the use of antiangiogenic drugs, we discuss about a paradox that is forming: in the war against tumoral angiogenesis it will be necessary to fight also the hypoxic condition caused by the antiangiogenic drugs.
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U2 - 10.1358/dnp.2007.20.5.1120218
DO - 10.1358/dnp.2007.20.5.1120218
M3 - Article
C2 - 17878958
AN - SCOPUS:34548370717
VL - 20
SP - 307
EP - 313
JO - Drug News and Perspectives
JF - Drug News and Perspectives
SN - 0214-0934
IS - 5
ER -