Evidence of VEGF expression in colorectal cancer

The angiogenic switch tips the balance in favor of tumor growth

Colorectal cancer is one of the many malignancies in which angiogenesis has been implicated. Neovascularization begins when the "angiogenic switch" is turned on—when angiogenesis activators outweigh angiogenic inhibitors. An important factor mediating tumor angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF.¹

VEGF: important early and throughout colorectal cancer development

Because of the well-defined steps in its progression (adenoma → Tis → T1 invasive cancer → T2 advanced cancer with metastases), colorectal cancer represents a model for investigating the effects of angiogenesis throughout tumor development.² A number of studies have hypothesized at what point in the development cycle colorectal tumors begin to upregulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thereby activating the "angiogenic switch" and crossing the threshold into the process of neovascularization.

References:

1.

Bergers G, Benjamin LE. Nat Rev Cancer. 2003;3:401-410.

2.

Takahashi Y, Ellis LM, Mai M. Oncol Rep. 2003;10:9-13.