Angiogenesis

Growth and development of tissues, including cancers, is dependant on blood supply. For tumors to grow and spread, they need a growing blood supply as well. This is achieved by growth and development of vessels within the cancer tissues, a phenomenon known as angiogenesis.

Blockage and inhibition of angiogenesis may control the growth of cancers. There are now two classes of drugs that have been approved by the FDA for treatment of cancers:

1-    Avastin, which is an antibody and is administered intravenously,

2-   Sutent, comes in oral form and it inhibits the angiogenic pathway inside the cancer cells.

3-   Nexavar also comes in oral form and it inhibits the angiogenic pathway inside the cancer cells.