Angiogenesis in ovarian cancer.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new vessels from pre-existing vasculature, is critical to ascites development and metastasis in ovarian cancer. Many growth factors important to ovarian cancer invasion are also prominent in its associated angiogenesis. Deregulation of normal angiogenic processes occurs with the cancer's acquisition of the ability to secrete pro-angiogenic factors. The local imbalance of endogenous angio-stimulators and angio-inhibitors promotes vascularization and vascular leak. Assessment of these pro-angiogenic growth factors and enumeration of tumour-associated microvessels have been shown to be prognosticators of ovarian cancer outcome, and may also be surrogates of ovarian cancer tumour burden and/or ascites formation. The process of angiogenesis has been targeted for therapeutics development. Ovarian cancer is a primary cancer against which these new agents are being tested. Thus, further understanding of the molecular and cell biology of angiogenesis in the context of ovarian cancer offers important directions for estimation of patient outcome and for patient treatment.