Related Resources for this page:

Targeting angiogenesis:
Inhibition of a tumor’s lifeline

Angiogenesis is a vital process that facilitates tumor growth and survival.1-3 Tumor angiogenesis refers to the ability of a tumor to stimulate new blood vessel formation.1,2 This critical step in development enables tumor expansion, local invasion, and dissemination through1-3:

  • Delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and survival factors
  • Production of growth factors that benefit tumor cells
  • Formation of a route for tumor cell egress
Angiogenesis cancer research
Click here to view a larger version of this image

Angiogenesis is a well-controlled process that is regulated by angiogenic, growth, and survival factors that are secreted by the malignant cells as well as other cells within the tumor microenvironment.2,4

Epidermal growth factor domain–like 7 (EGFL7) is an extracellular matrix protein that supports endothelial cell adhesion, promotes cell survival under stress, and forms perivascular tracks that regulate blood vessel formation.5-7 EGFL7 is selectively expressed in nascent blood vessels in tumors and other proliferating tissues, but is absent or expressed at low levels in healthy quiescent vessels.7 Preclinical studies also report that EGFL7 may promote tumor escape from immunity.6

Please note: this video contains sound so please adjust volume

References:
1.
Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell. 2011;144:646-674. PMID: 21376230
2.
Bergers G, Benjamin LE. Tumorigenesis and the angiogenic switch. Nat Rev Cancer. 2003;3:401-410. PMID: 12778130
3.
Hicklin DJ, Ellis LM. Role of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway in tumor growth and angiogenesis. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:1011-1027. PMID: 15585754
4.
Nyberg P, Salo T, Kalluri R. Tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis. Front Biosci. 2008;13:6537-6553. PMID: 18508679
5.
Parker LH, Schmidt M, Jin SW, et al. The endothelial-cell-derived secreted factor Egfl7 regulates vascular tube formation. Nature. 2004;428:754-758. PMID: 15085134
6.
Delfortrie S, Pinte S, Mattot V, et al. Egfl7 promotes tumor escape from immunity by repressing endothelial cell activation. Cancer Res. 2011;71:7176-7186. PMID: 22037871
7.
Schmidt M, Paes K, De Mazière A, et al. EGFL7 regulates the collective migration of endothelial cells by restricting their spatial distribution. Development. 2007;134:2913-2923. PMID: 17626061