DMMC Course CANCER BIOLOGY TO CANCER MEDICINE

0900-0930 Thursday 25 May 2006.
Durkan Lecture Theatre, Institute of Molecular Medicine, TCD, St James's Hospital

Angiogenesis and cancer
Dr Judy Harmey (Department of Surgery, RCSI)

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature is essential for both the growth and metastasis of solid tumours. Vasculogenesis, de novo vessel formation by in situ incorporation of bone-marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells, can also contribute to vascularization of solid tumours. In the healthy adult, angiogenesis only occurs in a number of limited conditions such as wound healing. Therefore the anti-cancer potential of strategies designed to inhibit tumour angiogenesis have become an area of intense interest. Regulation of tumour angiogenesis and approaches to inhibit angiogenesis will be discussed.

Resources

Web Link: National Cancer Institute Understanding Cancer Series: Angiogenesis

Web Link: National Cancer Institute: Angiogenesis Inhibitors in Clinical Trials

Reference: Hanahan, D. & Folkman J. (1996). Patterns and emerging mechanisms of the angiogenic switch during tumorigenesis. Cell 86, 353-364. PubMed Entry

Reference: Iwami, Y., Masuda, H. & Asahara, T. (2004). Endothelial progenitor cells: past, state of the art, and future. J. Cell Mol. Med. 8, 488-497. PubMed Entry