Tumour Angiogenesis

Book excerpt: Tumour Angiogenesis is the first comprehensive book to cover all areas of this rapidly expanding research area. Each chapter is written by world experts in the field and topics covered include in vivo models, mechanisms, inhibition, and the role of macrophages, cytokines, proteases,extracellular matrix components, nitric oxide, prostanoids and oncogenes/tumour suppressor genes in angiogenesis. Other chapters examine the role of specific growth factors in angiogenesis - these include vascular endothelial growth factor, the basic fibroblast growth factor family, transforminggrowth factor-beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase and pleiotrophin and related molecules. Clinical issues are addressed in chapters that deal with the prognostic and predictive value of tumour microvessel density and thetherapeutic significance of microregional blood flow. The two final chapters examine the feasibility of targeting tumour vasculature using either antibodies or gene therapy.