Angiogenesis/tumor hypoxia: new treatment options?

Angiogenesis, the development of a neovascular blood supply, is a critical step in the development and progression of malignant tumors and metastasis. It is well known that without new blood vessels a tumor cannot grow to be larger than about 1–2mm2 since blood supplies nutrients such as glucose, oxygen and minerals to the cells. Angiogenesis in healthy humans is largely restricted to wound healing and reproduction. Therefore, to initiate neovascularization, a tumor must switch to an angiogenic phenotype. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes appear to be associated with the angiogenic switch leading to an angiog…